Acupuncture requires a perfect knowlegde of the human anatomy in orden to avoid damages in the application of this therapeutic technique.
To describe the anatomic structures that a needle crosses in several acupuncture points of the upper extremity
Dissection of needles trajectory inserted in the points 11IG, 4IG, 5TR, 7P, 3ID, 6 MC in the upper extremity of a woman that makes a donation at the Faculty of Medicine (Bellvitge Campus), University of Barcelona.
In skin dissection, needles did not cross sensitive nerves with a diameter minor of 1,5 mm; neither macroscopic anatomic changes were observed in the puncture points respect the rest of the upper extremity. In the six points the needle crossed muscular o tendinous strutctures and also, in several ocasions, it crossed vasculonervous estructures, as for exemple cubital nerve in the 4IG point and the interoseo nerve in the 5TR point.
Acupuncture is a millenary and excellent therapy but it require basic anatomic knowledges that allows to avoid damages.