ISO/TS 23961-3:2024

Technical
Specification
ISO/TS 23961-3
First edition
Traditional Chinese medicine —
2024-06
Vocabulary for diagnostics —
Part 3:
Abdomen
Médecine traditionnelle chinoise — Vocabulaire pour les
diagnostics —
Partie 3: Abdomen
Reference number
© ISO 2024
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ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
3.1 General .1
3.2 Abdomen structure .1
3.3 TCM abdominal manifestations on clinic .3
3.4 Application of abdominal terms .4
Annex A (informative) List of equivalent terms in Chinese, Japanese and Korean . 9
Annex B (informative) Body structures of abdomen .12
Bibliography .20
Index .21

iii
Foreword
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iv
Introduction
Abdominal diagnosis is one of the unique diagnostic methods in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
International standards in the field of TCM are needed to facilitate international communication, medical
activities, scientific researches and regulations. Furthermore, the standardization of terminology is very
important for manufacturing products (e.g. education-related products and diagnostic products).
This document facilitates government regulation and policy. It also facilitates the international trade of
abdominal diagnosis related products and services.

v
Technical Specification ISO/TS 23961-3:2024(en)
Traditional Chinese medicine — Vocabulary for diagnostics —
Part 3:
Abdomen
1 Scope
This document defines terms for abdominal diagnosis. The equivalent terms in Chinese characters (Pinyin),
Japanese characters and Korean characters are given in Annex A.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1 General
3.1.1
abdominal examination
method of physical investigation of the abdomen
Note 1 to entry: See Table A.1.
Note 2 to entry: Methods include palpation.
Note 3 to entry: See term 2.4.74 "abdominal examination" in Reference [1].
3.1.2
manifestation
symptom or identifiable result of a specific ailment or situation
Note 1 to entry: Manifestations can be either objective when observed by a physician, or subjective when perceived by
the patient.
3.2 Abdomen structure
3.2.1
epigastric region
epigastrium
part of the upper abdomen (3.2.7) above stomach and below the diaphragm inside mammillary line
Note 1 to entry: See Table A.1.
Note 2 to entry: See Annex B: Figure B.1, key 3 and Figure B.2 key 3.

3.2.2
chest and hypochondrium
region along the costal arches
Note 1 to entry: See Table A.1.
Note 2 to entry: See Annex B: Figure B.1, key 4 and Figure B.2, key 4.
3.2.3
lateral upper abdomen
lower hypochondrium
region of the abdomen bounded by the lower costal arch and the side of the chest
Note 1 to entry: See Table A.1.
Note 2 to entry: See Annex B: Figure B.1, key 5 and Figure B.2, key 5.
3.2.4
supra-umbilical region
region above the umbilicus
central region of the abdomen above the navel
Note 1 to entry: See Table A.1.
Note 2 to entry: See Annex B: Figure B.1, key 6 and Figure B.2, key 6.
3.2.5
left or right umbilical region
para-umbilicus region
region beside the umbilicus
central region of the abdomen left and/or right beside the navel
Note 1 to entry: See Table A.1.
Note 2 to entry: See Annex B: Figure B.1, key 7 and Figure B.2, key 7.
3.2.6
infra-umbilical region
region below the umbilicus
central region of the abdomen below the navel
Note 1 to entry: See Table A.1.
Note 2 to entry: See Annex B: Figure B.1, key 8 and Figure B.2, key 8.
3.2.7
upper abdomen
abdominal region above the level of the navel
Note 1 to entry: See Table A.1.
Note 2 to entry: See Annex B: Figure B.1, key 9.
3.2.8
lower abdomen
abdominal region below the level of the navel
Note 1 to entry: See Table A.1.
Note 2 to entry: See Annex B: Figure B.1, key 10.

3.2.9
lateral lower abdomen
part of the lower abdominal region lateral to the mammillary line
Note 1 to entry: See Table A.1.
Note 2 to entry: See Annex B: Figure B.1, key 11.
3.3 TCM abdominal manifestations on clinic
3.3.1
abdominal strength
quality of being tense in abdomen
Note 1 to entry: See Table A.1.
3.3.2
tenderness
pain as a result of pressure
Note 1 to entry: See Table A.1.
3.3.3
resistance
tension opposition to an active force
Note 1 to entry: See Table A.1.
Note 2 to entry: The term is used to describe resistance to pressure.
3.3.4
stuffiness
localized subjective feeling of fullness (3.3.5) and obstruction
Note 1 to entry: See Table A.1.
Note 2 to entry: See 2.3.152 “stuffiness” in Reference [1] and 09-319 “stuffiness” in Reference [2].
Note 3 to entry: The term is used to describe epigastric stuffiness.
3.3.5
fullness
subjective feeling of being filled to capacity
Note 1 to entry: See Table A.1.
Note 2 to entry: The term is used to describe fullness and discomfort in chest and hypochondrium (3.4.5).
3.3.6
pulsation
beating of artery
Note 1 to entry: See Table A.1.
Note 2 to entry: The term is used to describe pulsation of aorta.
3.3.7
tension
state of being stretched tight
Note 1 to entry: See Table A.1.
Note 2 to entry: The term is used to describe rectus abdominal muscle tension (3.4.15).

3.3.8
contracture
state of static muscle shortening sometimes with shortening of skin
Note 1 to entry: See Table A.1.
Note 2 to entry: The term is used to describe lower abdominal and inguinal muscle tension (3.3.7).
3.3.9
flaccid abdominal wall
restless peristalsis
state of thinness of the abdominal wall with decreased bowel movement
Note 1 to entry: See Table A.1.
Note 2 to entry: The term is used to describe unstable peristalsis (3.4.19) (observed through flaccid abdominal wall).
3.3.10
spastic abdominal wall
state of rigidity of the abdominal wall with abdominal pain
Note 1 to entry: See Table A.1.
Note 2 to entry: The term is used to describe abdominal wall tension (3.3.7).
3.4 Application of abdominal terms
3.4.1
epigastric stuffiness
stuffiness in the epigastric region
focal distension in epigastric region (3.2.1) reported by the patient
Note 1 to entry: See Table A.1.
Note 2 to entry: See Annex B: Figure B.3 a).
Note 3 to entry: See term 09-335 “epigastric stuffiness” in Reference [2].
Note 4 to entry: The term is used to describe subjective epigastric stuffiness (3.3.4).
[3]
Note 5 to entry: The first mention is in the Shanghanlun .
3.4.2
epigastric stuffiness and resistance
subjective feeling of fullness (3.3.5) and obstruction in epigastric region (3.2.1) reported by the patient and
opposite force when abdomen is palpated
Note 1 to entry: See Table A.1.
Note 2 to entry: See Annex B: Figure B.3 b).
Note 3 to entry: See term 2.3.150 “stuffiness and rigidity below the heart” in Reference [1].
Note 4 to entry: The term is used to describe epigastric stuffiness (3.4.1) and resistance (3.3.3) to pressure.
[3]
Note 5 to entry: The first mention in the Shanghanlun .
3.4.3
obstructive sensation in epigastrium
rectus abdominal muscle tension (3.4.15) under the costal arch associated with feeling of obstruction and
discomfort in epigastric region (3.2.1)
Note 1 to entry: See Table A.1.

Note 2 to entry: See Annex B: Figure B.4.
Note 3 to entry: See term 2.3.149 “tightness below the heart” in Reference [1] and term 09-330 “obstructive sensation
in epigastrium” in Reference [2].
[3]
Note 4 to entry: The first mention is in the Shanghanlun .
3.4.4
splashing sound in epigastric region
fluid retention in stomach
sound heard with percussion over the stomach or when bouncing the epigastric region (3.2.1) of the
abdominal wall
Note 1 to entry: See Table A.1.
Note 2 to entry: See Annex B: Figure B.5.
Note 3 to entry: The term is used to describe formulas for fluid retention pattern.
3.4.5
fullness and discomfort in chest and hypochondrium
feeling of dull pain and oppression in either side of hypochondrium when abdomen is palpated
Note 1 to entry: See Table A.1.
Note 2 to entry: See Annex B: Figure B.6.
Note 3 to entry: See term 2.3.157 “fullness in the chest and hypochondrium” in Reference [1] and term 09-321 “fullness
and discomfort in chest and hypochondrium” in Reference [2].
Note 4 to entry: The term is used to describe objective fullness (3.3.5) and discomfort in chest and hypochondrium
(3.2.2) to pressure.
[3]
Note 5 to entry: The first mention is in the Shanghanlun .
3.4.6
epigastric aortic pulsation
objective palpitations of abdominal aorta in the epigastric region (3.2.1)
Note 1 to entry: See Table A.1.
Note 2 to entry: See Annex B: Figure B.7, Key 1.
Note 3 to entry: See term 2.3.142 “palpitation below the heart” in Reference [1].
Note 4 to entry: The term is used to describe formulas for qi counter flow pattern or fluid retention pattern.
[3]
Note 5 to entry: The first mention is in the Shanghanlun .
3.4.7
pulsation in the supra-umbilical region
objective palpitations of abdominal aorta felt in the region above the umbilicus when abdomen is palpated
Note 1 to entry: See Table A.1.
Note 2 to entry: See Annex B: Figure B.7, key 2.
Note 3 to entry: See term 2.3.164 “palpitations above the umbilicus” in Reference [1].
Note 4 to entry: The term is used to describe formulas for qi counter flow pattern or fluid retention pattern.
[4]
Note 5 to entry: The first mention is in the NanJing .

3.4.8
pulsation in the infra-umbilical region
objective palpitations of abdominal aorta felt in the region below the umbilicus when abdomen is palpated
Note 1 to entry: See Table A.1.
Note 2 to entry: See Annex B: Figure B.7, key 3.
Note 3 to entry: See term 2.3.166 “palpitations below the umbilicus” in Reference [1].
Note 4 to entry: The term is used to describe formulas for qi counter flow pattern or flui
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