[Progress in the study on the mechanism underlying the correlation between acupoints/meridians and Zangfu organs]

In the present paper, the authors review development of studies on the mechanism underlying the correlation between acupoints/ meridians and internal organs in recent 10 years from (1) doctrine of "dynamic acupoint"; (2) effect of one acupoint-stimulation on multi-viscera, (3) effect of multi-acupoints/multi-meridians stimulation on one single internal organ, (4) specific reactions of visceral disorders on the body surface, (5) the therapeutic effect of acupoint-injection being better than muscular injection, (6) effect of acupuncture on the expression of some known intracellular genes/proteins of the related viscera, (7) effect of acupuncture on the expression or phosphorylation of whole genes/whole proteins of the related viscera, (8) peripheral pathways connecting acupoints and the associated internal organ, (9) central pathways connecting acupoints and the related viscera, and (10) overview of the similar researches in foreign countries. In addition, the authors also make a preliminary analysis on the research significance, current problems and the thoughts in the coming studies. Utilizing advanced knowledge and techniques of systems biology to study "the correlation between acupoints/meridians and internal organs" will greatly promote the development of acupuncturology.