The four acupoints Fushe(SP 13)

Fujie(SP 14)

Daheng(SP 15) and Fuai(SP 16)(except SP 12) of the Spleen Meridian of Foot-Taiyin in the abdomen are all 4 cun lateral to the abdominal midline.The origin of "4-cun" distance and the related explanations have not been found in any books including textbooks and related Chinese national standards about acupuncture and moxibustion.In the graphical representations

these 4 acupoints are directly below the nipple

because the nipple is 4 cun from the chest midline.The authors of the present paper don't think that is right

because in locating the acupoint

the nearest body surface anatomical landmarks should be used first as the basis.The abdomen and the chest are two anatomic sites after all

locating the abdominal acupoints with the chest surface landmarks often results in larger deviation

because many people's bodies are not so symmetrical and standard

and the adult abdominal fat difference is very big.Therefore

it is highly recommended that the abdominal acupoints are located by using the abdominal anatomical landmarks

for example

the outer edge of rectus abdominis

the outer edge of abdomen

etc.