足三里穴为临床治疗腹部脏器疾病的主要穴位。在针麻手术中

如胃大部切除

胆囊切除

阑尾手术等也都是作为主穴。对于足三里穴区的研究

以往多着重于以下几个方面:如对传入神经纤维组成的研究

认为有髓传入纤维多于无髓传人纤维

针刺镇痛显效动物的足三里穴区中

有髓与无髓传入纤维的数目比例为2.7:1

无髓传入纤维在针刺镇痛中似不起主要作用

对“足三里“穴针刺镇痛点的传入纤维的速度及传入纤维的直径的研究

认为针刺“足三里”“显50ul of 10% horseradish peroxidase (HRP) solution were injected into the area of Zusanli point in twenty rabbits. After a survival of six to seven days the animal were sacrificed and their hearts were perfused with 2% paraformaldehyde solved in 0 1M phosphoric acid buffer (pH7.2

7

.3). The spinal ganglia Were treated according to HRP method and incubated in 3'-3diaminobenzindine (DAB) H_2O_2 solution. The distribution of the HBP labeled cells were examined under microscope and the results were as follows. We could find clearly labeled cells appearing in the spinal ganglia from tho- racic 6-12 (T6-12) and lumbars 1-7 (L1-7) to sacral. Moreover it was found that labeled cells were of different sizes

but most were large cells. A new point of view has been put forward by the above experimental studies

i.e. the segment of the "Zusanli" afferent fibers is longer (from thorax 6 to sacral 3) and contains large

middle and small cells. This pro- vides a morphological foundation for the treatment of stomach and intes- tinal diseases by acupuncturing "Zusanli" point.