E-ISSN:2456-3110

Review Article

Anatomy

Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences

2024 Volume 9 Number 9 SEPTEMBER
Publisherwww.maharshicharaka.in

A comparative study of Guda Sharira with contemporary knowledge of Anatomy

Sengar SS1*, Upadhyay S2, Chitragupt A3
DOI:10.21760/jaims.9.9.29

1* Shailendra Singh Sengar, Reader, Samhita and Siddhant, Babu Yugraj Singh Ayurvedic Medical College and Hospital, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.

2 Sapna Upadhyay, Preliminary MD Ayu Scholar, Dept of Kayachikitsa, SGM PG Ayurvedic Medical College and Hospital Saheri, Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, India.

3 Ankita Chitragupt, Assistant Professor, Dept of Rachana Sharira, Babu Yugraj Singh Ayurvedic Medical College, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.

The science of life aims all alleviations of diseases as well as maintenance and promotion of good health. But in today’s era due to sedentary life style and less physical activities, frequency of several diseases and disorder has increased. According to literature, the incidence of anorectal diseases in the general population is 5-15%.[1] The incidence of anorectal diseases during pregnancy may increase upto 4½.[2] Here Guda means the organs which excrete the Apana Vayu and Mala.[3] So, Guda can be used to indicate end part of digestive system. Almost all the Acharyas have use this term to refer to an organ, which perform function of defecation. Guda is a continuation of large intestine and embryologically derived from Matrujabhasa.[4] Acharya Charak describes Guda as one of Khoshtangas[5] and further elebroate that within the pelvic region the Guda has two part Uttara Guda and Adhara Guda.[6] Guda is identified as Mool of Pureeshavaha Srotas[7] in Ayurvedic text. It is also categorized as Bahirmukha Strotas[8] and one of the Karmendriya[9] (Organ of action). Guda is one among the Prananayatan.[10] It has also been included in Sadyopranahara[11] and Mansa Marma Guda is seat of Muladhar Chakra on which all the Chakra depends. The aim of this study is to reconstruct the concept of Guda in this current era to visualise the structure, location, reginal anatomy of ano rectal region. The importance of this study as Guda is vital organ of human body having a rich blood supply which correct knowledge and applied aspect concerning anorectal injuries and disorder.

Keywords: Guda Sharira, Uttar Guda, Adho Guda, Ano Rectal Region

Corresponding Author How to Cite this Article To Browse
Shailendra Singh Sengar, Reader, Samhita and Siddhant, Babu Yugraj Singh Ayurvedic Medical College and Hospital, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Email: 		Sengar SS, Upadhyay S, Chitragupt A, A comparative study of Guda Sharira with contemporary knowledge of Anatomy. J Ayu Int Med Sci. 2024;9(9):185-189.
Available From
https://jaims.in/jaims/article/view/3672

Manuscript Received Review Round 1 Review Round 2 Review Round 3 Accepted
2025-08-14 2025-08-25 2025-09-04 2025-09-14 2025-09-27
Conflict of Interest Funding Ethical Approval Plagiarism X-checker Note
None Nil Yes 12.87

© 2024by Sengar SS, Upadhyay S, Chitragupt Aand Published by Maharshi Charaka Ayurveda Organization. This is an Open Access article licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ unported [CC BY 4.0].

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Introduction

To show the importance of the study of Sharir Rachana, Acharya Shusrut has Rightly quoted that no one can become a good physician without having proper theoretical and practical knowledge of anatomy of human body Ayurveda is a holistic science on which the current medical science stands.

In our classical text various concepts mentioned by different Acharyas but to prove those concepts several attempts have done. If we could interpret the exact meaning of our classical text mentioned by Acharya it would by much help to expand Ayurvedic view world wild and might help to achieve Ayurveda aim towards providing better treatment to diseased person.

As per Guda Sharir, Acharya Charka describe Guda as Kosthang among 15 and having two-part Uttaraguda & Addhoguda. Also, Charka mentions as one of the Dasha Pranayatan. Acharya Sushruta and Vagbhatt explain Guda as Marma.

It is very essential to have knowledge of anatomical relations and structures of Guda, because without this, surgical treatment cannot be done properly.

The anatomical description of Guda is not clearly available in Ayurvedic literature. But we can get an idea about anatomical concept of Guda by taking into consideration of scattered references in different texts.

Aim and Objectives

1. To Study Guda Sharir and its relation to modern anatomy.
2. To interpret the exact location of Guda mention in Ayurvedic text which will provide better treatment to diseased person.
3. Detail study of Guda Sharir & its comparison with anorectal region.

Materials and Methods

Source of Data

Literary Source

Literary aspect of the study will be collected from Classical Ayurvedic Texts, Contemporary Medical Science, Medical journals and Internet.

Review of Literature

Embryological origin of Guda in Ayurveda

Embryologically Guda is originated from Matruja Bhava of Garbha.[12] The Antras, Guda and Vasti of the fetus are for made from Rakta and Kapha, after being digested by Pitta and Vayu.[13]

Location of Guda

Charaka has classified it among one of the 15th Koshtangas. He divided it into two parts i.e., Uttara Guda and Adhara Guda. Chakrapani says that Uttara Guda is an organ in which Pureesha (feces) is collected while Adhara Guda is meant for excretion of feces.[14] According to Sushruta, it is attached to Sthulantra (large intestine) and is one of the organs that come in relation with Vasti.[15]

Relations

While describing operation of Ashmari, Sushruta has instructed that first surgeon should introduce his finger in the Guda and fix the calculus to make prominence in the perianal region. It indicates that Guda is located closely posterior to the Vasti.[16]

Extent of Guda

Sushruta and Vagbhata have mentioned about the length of Guda as 41/2.[17] Angulas The measurement of one Angula is approximately 2cm, on the basis of this the total length of the Guda is 9cm. It is well known that maximum length of the anal canal is 3cm. Thus, the extent of Guda includes that anal canal plus the lower 6cm of rectum, which gives roughly as Inferior Houston's valve. The total length of ano-rectal canal from the anal margin to the recto-sigmoid junction is about 16.5cm. Out of this 3cm is the length of anal canal, upper 71 cm is rectum and 41/2 Angulas measurement of Guda exceeds the anal canal and fall short of recto-sigmoid Junction. It infers that Guda includes anal canal and apart of rectum.

Internal structure of Guda

Sushruta has described that the interior of the Guda (Anorectal canal) contains Three Valis. They are Pravahini, Visarjini and Samvarani. These are situated one above the other at an interval of Angala. They are arranged in spiral form (Shankasarta Nibha) and resemble the color of palate of an elephant (Gaja Talu).[18]


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Vaghbata has clarified the positions of these Valis. He named proximal one is Pravahini, the middle one is Visarjini, and distal one in Samvarani.[19]

Table 1: Gudvali

1.PravahiniProximalMiddle Houston’s Valve
2.Visarjini MiddleInferior Houston’s Valve
3.SamvaraniDistalDentate line

Guda as Marma, Srotas and Pranayatana

Sushruta has described the Guda as a Mamsa Marma, which is attached to Sthulantra (large intestine) and through which Vata and Purisha is excreted out. Any injury occurring to this organ results in immediate death. So, it is considered as Sadyah Pranahara Marma.[20] He also considered the Guda as a Bahya Srotas, means having opening to the exterior. Charaka and Vagbhata considered as one among the Dasapranayatana.[21]

Sira and Dhamani of Guda

Sira (veins) represents carrier channels of Vata, Pitta, Kapha, blood, lymph, urine, feces, semen and menstrual blood. Sushruta has stated that out of 34 Sira, which are found in the Koshta (abdominal cavity), & supply to the Guda, Medra (penis) and the Shroni (pelvis).[22] The Dhamanis (arteries) taking a downward course carry Apanavata, Muthra (urine), Purisha (feces), Shukra (semen) and Artava (menstrual blood) to the respective organs such as Pakwashaya (intestines) Kati (waist), Guda, Vasti and Medra. All these organs situated below the level of Nabhi (umbilicus). The two Dhamanis attached to the Sthulantra perform excretion of the Purisha (feces).

Discussion

Modern Anatomy:Anatomy of the Rectum and Anal canal. The terminal part of the large intestine is the rectum and anal canal. The useful components of the food are absorbed and the end waste material is stored in this part of the gut, that to be expelled through the anus, which is the external opening of the anal canal present in the anal triangle of the perineum. Anal canal is heavily guarded by the sphincters.  

Rectum:The rectum is the distal part of the large intestine. Distension of the rectum causes the desire to defecate. Rectum is curved in an antero-posterior direction and also from side to side.

The three cardinal features of the large intestine i.e., sacculations, appendices epiploicae and Taenia ecoli are absent in the rectum.

Situation: The rectum is situated in the posterior aspect of the lesser pelvis in front of the lower three pieces of the sacrum and coccyx.

Extent: The rectum begins as a continuation of the sigmoid colon at the level of the third sacral vertebrae. The recto-sigmoid junction is indicated by the lowered the sigmoid colon. The rectum ends by becoming continuous with the anal canal at the anorectal junction. The junction lies 2-3cm in front and little below the tip of the coccyx. The relation of this part in males, the junction corresponds to the apex of prostrate and in females is at the level of lower part of the vagina.

Dimensions: The rectum is 12cm long. In the upper part it has the same diameter of 4cm as that of sigmoid colon, but in the lower part it is dilated to form the rectal ampulla.

Course and Direction: In its course, the rectum runs first downwards and backwards, then downwards and forwards. The beginning and end of the rectum lies in the median plane, but it shows 2 types of curvatures in its course.

Two antero-posterior curve: the sacral flexure of the rectum follows the concavity of the sacrum and coccyx. The perineal flexure of the rectum is the backward bend at the anorectal junction.

Three lateral curves: the upper lateral curve of rectum is convex to the right. The middle lateral curve is convex to the left and is most prominent. The lower lateral curve is convex to the right.

Relations:

Peritoneal relations
1) The upper 1/3 of the rectum is covered with peritoneum anteriorly and the sides.
2) Middle 1/3 of the rectum is covered only anteriorly
3) Lower 1/3rd, which is dilated to form the ampulla lies below the lower 1/3.

Anal Canal: It is the large segment of digestive tube. The alimentary canal opens caudally on the body surface as anus. It is about 3.8 cm length and 1.25 to 1.9cm in diameter, from the termination of rectum to the anus situated in the perineum between the two gluteal folds.


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The functional length of anal canal measured by palpation averages 4.2cm (range 3-5cm) and cannot be related to the anatomic length of the anal canal from the dentate line to the anal verge which has an average length of 1-2cm (rangel-3.8cm).

Anus: It is the external opening of anal canal, situated about 4cm below and in front of tip of the coccyx and in the natal cleft. The skin is much pigmented and presents radiating folds and hairs are present in the male, large apocrine glands are found in the skin surrounding the anal orifice.

Anal canal musculature

The internal sphincter is a thickened continuation of the circular muscle coat of the rectum. This involuntary muscle commences where the rectum passes through the pelvic diaphragm, and ends at the anal orifice, where its lower border can be felt. The internal anal sphincter is 2.5cms long and 2-5mm thick. When exposed during life, it is pearly white in colour, and its individual transversely placed fibers can be seen clearly. Spasm and contracture of this muscle play a major part in fissure and other physiological aspect of the anal canal conditions.

The longitudinal muscle is a continuation of the longitudinal muscle coat of the rectum inter mingled with the fibers the puborectalis. Its fibres fan out through the lowest part of the external sphincter, to be inserted into the true anal and perineal skin. The longitudinal muscle fibers that are attached to the epithelium provide pathways for the spread of perianal infections, and mark out tight compartments that are responsible for the intense pressure and pain that accompany many localized perianal lesions. Beneath the anal skin lie the scanty fibers of the corrugator's cutis ani muscle.

The external sphincter, formerly subdivided into a subcutaneous, superficial and deep portion is now considered to be one muscle. Some of its fibers are attached posteriorly to the coccyx, while anteriorly they are inserted into the male perineal plain in the male, whereas in the female they fuse with the sphincter vagina in life the external sphincter is pink in colour," and homogenous unlike the pale internal sphincter muscle, which is involuntary. Their external sphincter is composed of voluntary (somatic) muscle between the internal (involuntary) sphincter and the external (voluntary) sphincter.

Ayurved Sharir of Guda ValisModern anatomy
PravahiniLargest Houston's valve
VisarjaniInternal anal sphincter
SamvariniExternal anal sphincter
UttargudaSeat for faecal collection
AdhargudaSeat for evacuation of the stools
GudaAnal canal with some extent up to largest transverse fold

Conclusion

On the basis of above study, we can correlate Guda with the rectum part of the large intestine. Three Gudavalis can correlate with the three transverse folds of the rectum. Pravahini can be considered as the largest Housten valve. Visarjani can be considered as the internal anal sphincter. Samvarani can be considered as the external anal sphincter. Uttarguda is the seat for faecal collection and Adharguda for evacuation of the stools.

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