New Insights into the Seichushin Seen in Abdominal Manipulation

Abstract

In the daily practice of Kampo medicine, a small string in the midline of the abdominal wall called the seichushin can be recognized. This paper intends to clarify anatomical aspects of this string by means of MRI or CT imaging. As a result of this study, this string's position distal of umbilicus was detected as the urachal remnant, and the proximal position was detected as the Lig. teres hepatis. The relationship between signs of the shofukufujin and seichushin has been not clear in some textbooks. The result of this study indicated that seichushin was detectable under the prerequisite condition of shofukufujin. That is, seichushin was inclusive special sign of shofukufujin, as has been already reported. On the other hand, the proximal seichushin was detectable under the condition of very weak tonus of the abdominal wall.