The segmental entry of the primary afferent does not cover all the indications of acupoints.
The cutaneous receptive field of the secondary afferent explains referrred pain from proprioceptive-, visceral- and cutanious input to multisensory convergence on WDR-neurons in the dorsal horn.
We postulate that "sham" points would share the same properties as verum acupoints if they would lie within the receptive field of the same WDR-convergent neuron.
Conference Paper Direct- & indirect ascending spinoreticular pathways to the ...
Here is an old but well done paper of Woolf et al. that were recording in vivo WDR neuron and characterizing their receptive field
Woolf CJ, Shortland P, Sivilotti LG Sensitization of high mechanothreshold superficial dorsal horn and flexor motor neurones following chemosensitive primary afferent activation. Pain. 1994 Aug;58(2):141-55.
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