Translating "上髎", acupuncture point BL-31
The reasoning for translating "上髎" as "Upper Bone Notch" from Chinese into English. This is the original name of acupuncture point BL-31 (Bladder 31).
Explanation of the point name
This point is located in the highest of the 4 bone notches in the sacral bone.
1st character
Point names with 上
For consistency in the translations, it is necessary to be aware of how the character is translated elsewhere. These are the point names it is in.
| LI-9 | 上廉 | Upper One at the Angle |
| ST-37 | 上巨虛 | At the Top of the Big Hollow |
| BL-31 | 上髎 | Upper Bone Notch |
| GB-3 | 上關 | Above the Joint |
| REN-13 | 上脘 | Upper Inside of the Stomach |
| DU-23 | 上星 | Stars Above |
Point names with 下 (opposite of 上)
For consistency in the translations, it helps to be aware of how the opposite character is translated elsewhere. These are the point names it is in.
| LI-8 | 下廉 | Lower One at the Angle |
| ST-7 | 下關 | Underneath the Joint |
| ST-39 | 下巨虛 | At the Bottom of the Big Hollow |
| BL-34 | 下髎 | Lower Bone Notch |
| REN-10 | 下脘 | Lower Inside of the Stomach |
2nd character
Meaning
The points with this in their name are all located in a depression in the underlying bone. Hence translating it as 'bone notch.'
Point names with 髎
For consistency in the translations, it is necessary to be aware of how the character is translated elsewhere. These are the point names it is in.
| LI-12 | 肘髎 | Elbow Bone Notch |
| LI-19 | 口禾髎 | Taste's Grain-like Bone Notch |
| ST-3 | 巨髎 | Large Bone Notch |
| SI-18 | 顴髎 | Cheekbone Notch |
| BL-31 | 上髎 | Upper Bone Notch |
| BL-32 | 次髎 | Second Bone Notch |
| BL-33 | 中髎 | Middle Bone Notch |
| BL-34 | 下髎 | Lower Bone Notch |
| TB-14 | 肩髎 | Shoulder Bones Notch |
| TB-15 | 天髎 | Heavenly Bone Notch |
| TB-22 | 耳和髎 | Attuned Listening Bone Notch |
| GB-1 | 瞳子髎 | Pupil Bone Notch |
| GB-29 | 居髎 | Squatting Bone Notch |
| DU-25 | 素髎 | White Bone Notch |
Nearby points
Sometimes the names of consecutive points on a meridian are related. Being aware of nearby points can help to translate consistently in such a situation.
| BL-28 | 膀胱兪 | Bladder Increase |
| BL-29 | 中膂兪 | Middle Spine Muscles Increase |
| BL-30 | 白環兪 | White Ring Increase |
| BL-31 | 上髎 | Upper Bone Notch |
| BL-32 | 次髎 | Second Bone Notch |
| BL-33 | 中髎 | Middle Bone Notch |
| BL-34 | 下髎 | Lower Bone Notch |