JIN Chuanyang, Lu Yun, ZHANG Jianbin

（1The Second Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210023；2Jiangsu Hospital of TCM,Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210029；3The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine,Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210017）

Abstract: This paper reviewed the development history of the experimental animal acupoints. Given the different historical periods, the names of the animal’s acupoints, the description of acupoints’ location, the location methods, and the location-reference, etc., it was concluded that the understanding and development of  experimental  animal  acupoints  had  been  experiencing  four  stages,  including  starting,  accumulating, normalization,  standardization.  It  focused  on  the  landmark  events  of  the  development  of  experimental animal  acupoints  during  these  stages,  including  the  publication  of  somekey  papers,  writings,  and  the textbooks,  the  convening  of  important  meetings.  In  addition,  it  also  analyzed  the  significance  of  these development stages, as well as the relationship with other stages. These provide a basic clue and basis for the rational understanding about laboratory animal acupoints, which involved their natures and discipline.

Key words:  acupuncture and moxibustion; the acupoints of experimental animals;  the development process; experimental acupuncture and moxibustion