Concept

Vessel

脉mai

2 sources

In Chinese medicine, the vessels: the channels that contain and convey nutritive qi and blood, restraining them so that they cannot stray (壅遏營氣，令無所避，是謂脈). Counted among the extraordinary fu organs, the vessels form the conduits through which blood circulates to nourish the whole body.

Source

Huangdi Neijing (Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor)《灵枢·决气》（内经选读下篇·藏象·气血营卫·原文2205）

References

《内经》论脉散见多篇综合理解（决气/五藏别论/脉度等）
WHO IST-TCM 2022 术语对齐（WGM2# 218 Vessel）

Full definition

Classical source text (Chinese) — English summary above.

壅遏營氣，令無所避，是謂脈

Citations

Huangdi Neijing (Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor) · 托名黄帝/岐伯（先秦—西汉医家辑） · 《灵枢·决气》（内经选读下篇·藏象·气血营卫·原文2205）Cited from Huangdi Neijing (Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor) for its definition.
WHO international standard terminologies on traditional Chinese medicine · World Health Organization · WHO IST-TCM 2022, WGM2# 218 (§1.3 藏象类)Cited from WHO international standard terminologies on traditional Chinese medicine for its standardized terminology.