Cutaneous regions of the fourteen meridians are location distribution areas of fourteen meridians on skin; they are universally called cutaneous regions.

There are big branches of fourteen meridians which are called twelve divergent collateral s and fifteen collaterals, there are many small branches which are called 365 collaterals, places of branches of small collaterals are meridian acupoints, 365 collaterals which diverge from meridians diverge into several small collaterals and are called tertiary collateral vessel which are covered with skin of circulation scope of meridian and forms distribution areas of fourteen meridian and collaterals. Viscera of human body which is associated with surrounding relies on small collaterals of cutaneous regions, outside information transfers from small collaterals to collaterals and from collateral to meridian vessel then from meridian to viscera, human body can regulate function that accommodates surrounding changes according to information. Viscera and bowels scatter unnecessary or odd Qi to outside through transmission route and absorb Qi from outside to keep yin-yang balance of human function and keep human normal existence.

Human body defenses through this gangway, when defense qi is inadequate, this gangway is the major route that evil qi offend human body, it penetrates from skin of small collaterals into collateral and from collateral into meridian then invade from meridian to viscera and bowels and causes disease of viscera and bowels. This gangway is also the route that acupuncture and moxibustion, Qigong, massage and dermatologic cure disease, this is the reason that acupuncture and moxibustion irritates skin can cure disease of internal organ, disease of internal organ can appears various reaction through this route such as pain, tenderness, changes of color and intradermal tubercle and so on, these reactions became diagnostic index. The above contents forms related theory of skin and internal organ. Since 1954, on the instruction of this theory, our country does general scientific study which is related to skin and internal organ, a lot of data enriches this content and becomes significance foundation of therapy method of acupuncture and moxibustion, Qigong, massage and dermatologic.

The ancients draw simple distribution diagram of twelve meridians, fifteen collaterals, and twelve divergent collateral s and eight extra meridians, but never draw diagram of twelve and twelve meridian sinews. This diagram was first appeared in Shijiang of meridian and collateral which is published in People’ publishing company of shanghai in 1976.there is no concrete record of distribution appearance of twelve cutaneous regions in Neijing and books of all through the ages. There is general record in Plain Question; its general meaning is that skin of circulation areas of meridian is cutaneous regions of each meridian and every meridian is the same. This diagram of cutaneous region is drawn on the basis of this principle, in accordance with record of distribution of 365 collaterals and tertiary collateral vessels and according to appearance of human body.

Cutaneous regions of fourteen meridians are called cutaneous regions of twelve meridians in Neijing. According to the record of 365 acupoints and 365 collaterals in cutaneous regions in Neijing, conception vessel and governor vessel should have subsection of cutaneous regions; otherwise acupoints of two vessels must be in cutaneous regions of other meridians and must lose function of two vessels. So original cutaneous regions of twelve meridians are added cutaneous regions of conception vessel and governor vessel and become cutaneous regions of fourteen meridians in Fig.63, Fig.64 and Fig.65.