Anatomy of the small intestine in ancient Chinese medicine

Woodcut illustration from an edition of 1537 (16th year of Jiajing reign period of Ming dynasty). The small intestine is one of the six fu organs. It is connected with the pylorus above, as is the stomach, and with the large intestine below. Zhenjiu juying, Vol. 1 states: 'The small intestine weighs 2 jin (Chinese lb, c. 500 gr.) 14 liang (Chinese oz., c. 50 gr). It measures 3 zhang (1 zhang = c. 3 1/3 metres), 2 chi (Chinese feet) and 2½ cun (Chinese inches) in width. Its diameter is just under 8½ fen (c. 1/3 cm). It is coiled to the left in 16 convolutions. It holds 2 dou (1 dou = c.1 decalitre) 4 sheng (litres) of grain (solids),and just over 6 sheng 3½ ge (1 ge = c. 1 decilitre) of water (fluid). The lower aperture of the stomach is the upper aperture of the small intestine.'

Xiaochang shangkou (upper aperture of the small intestine); wei xiakou (lower aperture of the stomach); xiaochang xiakou (lower aperture of the small intestine); dachang shangkou (upper aperture of the large intestine)