Srotasa
The word ‘srotasa’ means a secretory channel for transportation and transformation of body constituents. Every body part has its own requirements for growth and nourishment. They are exposed to various environments. This need for various environments emphasizes on creating separate space for the development of different organs in the body. Fulfillment of basic needs as food and excretion is done simultaneously while performing the duties as a system by establishing a network between different organs. Different types of srotasa are described for major systems of the body. Major srotasa in the body are classified into eleven pairs by Sushrut [Su. Sa Sharira Sthana 9/12] and thirteen gross channels by Charak. [Cha. Sa. Vimana Sthana 5/6,7][1] Srotasa are the inner circulatory pathways of the body which provides area for physiological function of general entities of the body like dosha, tissue (dhatu), waste material (mala). It helps in transformation and circulation of essential nutrients that support the functional entities. The word ‘srotasa’ is understood as the active inner transport system of body-mind-soul.[2] This chapter describes srotasa, its physiological and pathological aspects with importance in healthcare.
| Section/Chapter/topic | Concepts/Srotasa |
|---|---|
| Authors |
Bhojani M. K. 1, Kabadwal Dipti1 Saini Deepika 1 |
| Reviewer | Basisht G.2, |
| Editor | Deole Y.S.3 |
| Affiliations |
1 Department of Sharir Kriya, All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi, India 2 Rheumatologist, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A. 3 Department of Kayachikitsa, G. J. Patel Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India |
| Correspondence emails |
meera.samhita@aiia.gov.in, carakasamhita@gmail.com |
| Publisher | Charak Samhita Research, Training and Development Centre, I.T.R.A., Jamnagar, India |
| Date of publication: | April 07, 2023 |
| DOI | 10.47468/CSNE.2023.e01.s09.136 |
Etymology
The word srotasa is derived from the root (moola) “sravana” meaning to exude, to ooze, to flow of nourishing materials [ Cha. Sa. Sutra Sthana 30/12]. Literal meaning of srotas is “kha” or empty space, mainly they are considered as tracts, pathways, passages, artery, vein, nerve etc. [Cha. Sa. Vimana Sthana 5/9].
Definition
The human body is majorly made up of innumerable channels that are responsible for the transportation of various materials in the body. At the same time nourishing seven dhatus. [Cha. Sa. Vimana Sthana 5/3].
- “Sravanata srotansi” [Cha. Sa. Sutra Sthana 30/12]: The pathways that are helpful in the flow of nutritious substances in the body.
- “Sravanat rasadi srava pathatvaat srotansi” [Gangadhara commentary on Charak Samhita]: After the digestion of food, it is converted into essence (sara) & waste material (kitta part). The srotasa are pathways through which essence (sara bhaga) is transported in the body.
- The channels which carry the poshaka dhatu (the nourishing part of the dhatus) are called ‘srotasa’. [Chakrapani commentary on Charaka Samhita]
- The pathways which carry or transport all the significant materials like life elements (prana or rakta dhatu), four types of food, and all the dhatus are called ‘srotasa’. [Su. Sa Sharira Sthana 9/13]]
- “Srotamayama hi sharirama” all the living being are comprised of various macro and micro channels.
- Generally, the word srotasa is understood as macro and micro channels steering in the living being.[2]
Synonyms
Channels (srotasa) vein, venule (sira), artery, arteriole, capillary (dhamani), lymphatic ducts (rasayani), portal vein (rasavahini), nerve likewise radial nerve (nadi), passage (pantha), tracts like gastrointestinal tract (marga), body orifice like eyes, nose, ear, anus, vagina (sharira chhidra), closed passages (savrita), open passages (asavritni), sites like skin, lungs (sthana), habitation (niketa), spaces to be occupied by body constituents like liver and spleen (ashaya). [Cha. Sa. Vimana Sthana 5/9]
Formation
Formation of srotasa starts in the uterine life, vayu mahabhuta along with equilibrium state of agni mahabhuta demarcates the channels (srotasa). [Su. Sa Sharira Sthana 4/28]] Similarly, when ovum is fertilized by sperm, genesis of zygote takes place. Further zygote divides into multiple cells in a process known as ‘cleavage’, triggering the beginning of embryonic diffraction. Later formation of different channels of the foetus takes place.
Classification
Srotasa are numerous in number because humans are a complex organism, and all body entities are made up of innumerable srotasa. [Cha. Sa. Vimana Sthana 5/3] Fundamentally, every cell of the body could be understood as srotasa. As per the ayurvedic classics, srotasa can be broadly classified into two types:
- Sthula (Gross): They are further classified into two types:
- Bahiramukha (external openings): Bahirmukha srotasa have external orifices on the body. Broadly they are nine in number [Su. Sa Sharira Sthana 5/6]], two of them situated at the lower part of the body. Remaining seven are present in the upper part of the body. In females, three srotasa are mentioned below: [Su. Sa Sharira Sthana 5/10]]
- Internal openings (antarmukha): As per Acharya Charaka there are 13 main internal openings described [Ch. Sa Vimana Sthana 5/6]] and Acharya Sushruta mentioned 22 internal openings [Su Sa Sharira Sthana 9/12]]:
- Three intake channels or channels leading to the interior: Annavaha, pranavaha & udakavaha srotasa. These act as channels for the ingestion and transportation of solids (food), liquid & gases on a broader account. Hence, these will be considered as digestive, respiratory and electrolyte balancing systems. These channels form the main links of the body's internal environment with the external environment. Further, these channels are more prone to disorders, as they serve as the first defence to the external foreign matter entering the body. These are the first sites of ama production.
- Seven processor channels or channels of maintenance: These are dhatuvaha srotasa. These act as the processors of the body and maintain the equilibrium in their physiological states. In Ayurveda, dhatu is the body's structural unit that sustain sharira (body) and are responsible for its strength and immunity. These dhatuvaha channels provide the necessary nutrition for proper growth and development of the seven dhatus and the space for their transportation, digestion, and metabolism.These are the channels where ama is dislodged.
- Three output channels or channels leading to the expulsion of metabolic wastes. These include purishavaha, mutravaha, and swedavaha srotasa (malavaha srotasa). These will act as channels for removing waste products and toxic substances. The metabolites formed during metabolism in dhatuvaha srotasa and three input channels are further transported to malavaha srotasa, according to ease of removal through different sites of elimination through the body, after being processed again for easy and smooth expulsion by natural orifices.
- Sukshma (Micro channels): The small orifices or microscopic pores of the body are known as sukshma srotasa. The navel (nabhi) and tiny channels or orifice of the skin are understood as sukshma srotasa.
| Male (9) | Female (12) |
|---|---|
| 2 nostrils (nasa), external ear openings (karna), orbital opeings (akshi), mouth (mukh), external genitalia, anal orifice (guda) | 9+ breast (stana), cervix or opeing of birth canal (yoni) |
| Srotasa | Root (moola) as per Charak Samhita | Root (moola) as per Sushruta Samhita |
|---|---|---|
| Pranavaha srotasa (respiratory channels and vitality system ) | Heart (hridaya), gastroinstestinal tract (mahasrotasa) | Heart (hridaya), branches of aorta rasavahini dhamani |
| Ambuvaha srotasa (water and fluid system) | Soft palate (talu), gall bladder (kloma) | Soft palate (talu), gall bladder (kloma) |
| Annavaha srotasa (digestive system) | Stomach (amashaya), left lateral region of the abdomen (vamaparshva) | Stomach (amashaya), esophagus (annavahini dhamani) |
| Rasavaha srotasa (plasma and lymphatic system) | Heart (hridaya), branches of aorta (10 dhamani) | Heart (hridaya), the vessels or channel or terminal branches of the aorta that transport nutrition to various parts of the body (rasvahini dhamani) |
| Raktavaha srotasa (blood and vascular system) | Liver (yakrita), spleen (pleeha), | Liver (yakrita), spleen (pleeha), blood vessels (raktavahini dhamani) |
| Mamsavaha srotasa (channels maintaining muscle physiology) | Ligaments (snayu), 7 layers of skin (tvaka) | Ligaments (snayu), seven layers of skin (tvak), raktavahini dhamani |
| Medavaha srotasa (channels for lipid physiology) | Kidney (vrikka), omentum (vapavahana) | Lumbar region (kati), kidney (vrikka) |
| Asthivaha srotasa (channels for fibrocartilaginous system) | Bone or adipose tissue (meda), thigh (jaghana) | - |
| Majjavaha srotasa(channels for locomotor system) | Bones (asthi), joints (sandhi) | - |
| Shukravaha srotasa (reproductive channels) | Testicles (vrishana), the external genitalia (shepha) | Breast (stana), testicles (vrishana) |
| Artavavaha srotasa (channels for menstruation) | - | Womb (garbhashaya), endometrial arteries (artavavahini dhamani) |
| Mutravaha srotasa (channels for urinary system) | Urinary bladder (basti), groin region (vankshana) | Urinary bladder (basti), the external genitalia (medhra) |
| Purishavaha srotasa (defecatory channels) | Parts of the large intestine like cecum, rectum, sigmoid colon (pakvashaya), and anal canal (sthula guda) | Parts of large intestine (pakvashaya), anal canal (guda) |
| Swedavaha srotasa (perspiratory channels) | Fats (meda), hair follicles (lomakoopa) | - |
These srotasa can be further divided into three subgroups for ease of understanding:
Morphological characters
- Colour: Colour of srotasa is similar to the respective tissue (dhatu) they carry.
- Size: Minute (anu) in size or can be visible under the microscope, (sthula) macro in size (we can see direct by the naked eye).
- Shape: Round (vritta) in shape, (dirgha) long, (pratana) tendril like [Ch. Sa Vimana Sthana 5/25]].
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