The meridian begins at the outer corner of the eye, describes several loops around the ear and over the skull before returning towards the forehead, then descending the nape. It reaches the shoulder and penetrates deeply towards the gallbladder and liver, while a superficial branch zigzags down the lateral aspect of the chest to the hip. It then follows the outer aspect of the thigh and leg, passes in front of the lateral malleolus, crosses the dorsum of the foot and ends at the outer nail corner of the fourth toe.
The Gallbladder stores and releases the bile produced by the Liver, which makes it inseparable from the free flow of Qi. It governs decision and resolve: chronic indecision and lack of initiative are traditionally traced to it. Its lateral pathway makes it the meridian of pain along the side of the body — temporal migraine, neck pain, and pain in the shoulder, hip and outer leg. Its points are also used for eye disorders and dizziness.