Background The anatomical basis of meridian pathways remains a central challenge in modernizing Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Concurrently, modern science has redefined the integrated fascial-interstitial system as a pervasive, fluid-filled cavitary organ system involved in signaling and transport. This parallel invites novel theoretical integration. Objective This review proposes a translational hypothesis positing that the classical TCM concept of the “Sanjiao-Mocou” system is analogous to the modern fascial-interstitial system, together constituting the anatomical and functional substrate of meridians. Methods We conducted a systematic comparative analysis of classical TCM texts describing the Sanjiao (Triple Energizer) and Mocou (interstitial spaces) and contemporary literature on the structure and function of the fascial-interstitial system. This theoretical integration focuses on their shared attributes: being ubiquitous, fluid-transporting, cavity-containing connective tissue systems that facilitate systemic communication and homeostasis. Findings The hypothesis elucidates how the Sanjiao-Mocou system, long understood as the “passageway for Yuan-Primordial Qi and body fluids,” aligns closely with the fascial-interstitial system’s role in interstitial fluid transport, mechanotransduction, and immune surveillance. This analogy provides a coherent, testable model where meridians may be conceptualized as specialized functional channels within this pervasive cavitary organ. Conclusion The proposed analogy bridges a foundational TCM theory with contemporary biomedical science. It offers a potential anatomical framework for understanding meridians and opens new avenues for interdisciplinary research in biomechanics, fluid dynamics, and integrative physiology, potentially advancing the understanding of both TCM and fascial science.
Xia et al. (Fri,) studied this question.