Which point is on the midline of the back, in the depression below the spinous process of the eleventh thoracic vertebra?

• A. GV 6
• B. GV 5
• C. GV 7
• D. GV 3

Answer: (A)

The concept being tested is how to map a vertebral level to a point on the Governing Vessel along the midline of the back. The GV points run down the midline, and each point is located at a specific vertebral level, typically described as the depression just below the spinous process of that vertebra. The depression right beneath the spinous process of the eleventh thoracic vertebra corresponds to the Governing Vessel point at that level. That’s why this option is the best fit: it is the midline back point aligned with T11.

Think of locating it by feel: identify the spinous processes along the midline, move to the level of the eleventh thoracic vertebra, and palpate the small depression just below that spinous process to find the correct GV point. The other options would align with different vertebral levels along the back and would not sit in that same depression at T11.