"Mingmen"(GV 4) is one of the most frequently used acupoints in acupuncture clinic.In recent years

more and more experimental researches have been focusing on GV 4 or acupoint recipe containing GV 4 in rats.Accurate location of GV 4 is probably not only related to fully display its therapeutic effect

but also to help study its underlying mechanisms.However

there has been no unified standard about the accurate location of GV 4 in the adult rat at present.In the present paper

the authors review related literature about GV 4 location in experimental studies in recent 10 years

and put forward a practical method for locating GV 4 in the rat by combining their own experience.That is

GV 4 is taken according to the relative relationship of ilium and spinous process of the lumbar vertebra.In addition

the authors also recommend some matters needing attention in locating GV 4 in rats.