Precise knowledge of clinical anatomy and kinesiology, and orthopedic/myofascial palpation and inspection, and movement analysis skills, are all essential foundations for diagnosis, and for determining where--and where not--to needle.

This unique class prepares students to get the most from the Head, Neck, Thorax module & Review/Practicum Lab

Clinical anatomy and the jing-jin ("sinew meridians" or myofascial tracts)

• We will improve our abilities to accurately locate key bony landmarks, muscles, tendons, joints, neural and vascular tissues, through palpation on ourselves and each other, and through review of clinical anatomy.
• Through palpation, observation and movement exercises, we will explore functions of key muscles and their jing-jin associations, as well as functional vs. dysfunctional movement patterns.
• We will review safety considerations, including needling angle and depth, to avoid injuring the many critical structures in this body region.

Enhanced orthopedic palpation and inspection skills

• We will enhance our abilities to feel different tissue types and layers: skin, fascia, muscle, nerve, blood vessel, and bone, with both our hands and needle-tip sensation.
• We will practice inspection and palpation for tissue abnormalities including myofascial trigger points, tendinopathies and joint disorders.

Review of anatomical structure and kinesiologic function

• Bony structures, including palpable landmarks and which muscles attach to them:
  
  • External occipital protuberance
  • Mastoid process
  • Zygomatic arch
  • Temporomandibular joint
  • Spinous and transverse processes of C 2 to T 1
  • Facet joints of C 2-C 3 to C 6-C 7
• Muscles, including location, attachments, and functions
  • Pterygoids
  • Digastric
  • Masseter
  • Temporalis
  • Suboccipitals
  • Paraspinals: erector spinae group, multifidi, splenius and semispinalis groups
  • Upper, middle and lower trapezius
  • Levator scapula
  • Sterno-cleido-mastoid: sternal and clavicular heads
  • Scalenes: anterior, middle, posterior
  • Rhomboids
  • External intercostals
• Vascular structures
  
  • Arteries: carotid, subclavian, vertebrobasilar, temporal
  • Veins: internal and external jugular
• Spinal and neurological structures and functions
  
  • Spinal neuroforamen
  • Intervertebral discs: nucleus pulposus, annulus fibrosus
  • Central canal, neural arch of laminae and pedicles
  • Ligamentum flavum and posterior longitudinal ligament
  • Spinal cord: dura and arachnoid mater, upper vs. lower motor neurons
  • Lesser and greater occipital nerves
  • Nerve roots: C 1-T 12
  • Brachial plexus
  • Myotomes
  • Dermatomes
• Cervico-thoracic anatomical kinesiology
  • Planes of motion