Objective To investigate the location and anatomical structure of “Shaochong”(HT9)

“Shaofu”(HT8)

“Shenmen”(HT7)

“Lingdao”(HT4) and “Shaohai”(HT3) in the rabbit's forelimb. Methods Sixteen rabbits(half male and half female) were used in the present study. By referring to the national standards on the location of acupoints in the human body and the literature about the location of acupoints in the rabbit

and by using the method of comparative anatomy

the location and needling operation of the Five-shu acupoints of Shaoyin Heart Meridian on the rabbit's forelimb were defined

and these acupoints were needled and CT three-dimensional reconstruction were conducted. Then

the rabbits were killed

and intravascular perfusion was performed

followed by inserting acupuncture needles into these five acupoints for observing the anatomical relationship between the inserted acupuncture needle and the structure of surrounding tissues. Results HT9 is located at the medial side of the little finger of forelimb

about 1 mm beside the nail root

and is adjacent to the superficial flexor tendon of the finger

the dorsal branches of the proper palmar digital artery and vein

and the endings of dorsal branch of palmar digital proper nerve of the ulnar nerve on the fifth finger side. HT8 is located at the palm side of the forelimb

horizontally parallel to the proximal end of the 5th metacarpophalangeal joint and between the 4th and 5th metacarpal bones

and is adjacent to the lumbricalis

the 4th and 5th interossei

and common palmar digital artery and vein and the palmar digital proper nerve of the ulnar nerve. HT7 is located at the medial margin of the extensor carpal tendon on the ulnar side

between the distal end of the ulna and the ulnar carpal bone

and is adjacent to the tendons of flexor carpi ulnaris and extensor carpi ulnaris

ulnar artery

ulnar vein and ulnar nerve. HT4 is located at the medial border of the ulnar flexor tendon

about 1.5 cun superior to HT7

and is adjacent to extensor carpi ulnaris

flexor carpi ulnaris

flexor digitorum superficialis

flexor digitorum profundus

ulnar artery

vein and ulnar nerve. HT3 is located at the depression

medial to the condyle of humerus when the elbow is bent at 90°

its neighbor structure is composed of pronator teres

biceps brachii

brachial artery and vein

radial collateral artery

radial collateral vein

medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve and median nerve. Conclusion In the rabbit

there is a close relationship between HT9

HT8

HT7

HT4 and HT3 regions and brachial vascular and its branches

cephalic vein and its branches

medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve

median nerve and ulnar nerve

which is the morphological basis of the Five-shu acupoints of Shaoyin Heart Meridian for treating some related clinical disorders.