‘Twak’ as per Ayurvedic science means which encloses the whole body.
Joseph Listre said, ‘Skin is best dressing’. Twak is updhatu of Mamsa which
forms the outer covering of the body and protects the body from external
factors such as heat & cold. It is an important organ of integumentary system
which envelops underlying tissues & organs. Ayurveda mentions twak as
sparshanaindriya and different layers of twak are mentioned by Acharyas.
Understanding each layer is still unclear with reference to layers of skin
mentioned by contemporary science. There is a need to understand the
different layers of twak & skin, their structural, functional and
developmental interpretation and to correlate between them.
1. Sushruta, Sushruta Samhita,
Nibandhasangraha commentary of
Dalhanacharya and Nyayachandrika
Panchika commentary of Gayadasa,
Edited by Yadavji Trikamji Acharya,
Shareerasthana 4th Chapter, Reprint,
Choukhambha Orientalia, Varanasi;
2005.
2. Charaka, Charaka Samhita with
Ayurveda Dipika Commentary,
Choukhamba Sanskritseries. Varanasi
Shareera Sthana; 1994:337.
3. Sharma PV. Sushruta Samhita with
Nibandhasangraha commentary of
Dalhanacharya. Shareera Sthana 4/4.
Reprint ed. Varanasi (India):
Chaukambha Orientalia; 2009:355.
4. Kunte AM, Navare KS. Ashtanga
Hridaya of Vagbhata with
Commentary: Sarvangasundara of
Arunadatta and Ayurvedarasayana of
Hemadri. Shareera Sthana 3/8. Reprint
ed. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia;
2014:386.
5. Srivatsava Sailaja. Sharangadhara
Samhita. Poorvakhanda, 5/18, 2nd ed.
Varanasi (India): Choukumbha
Orientalia; 1998:124.
6. Acharya YT. Charaka Samhita with
Ayurveda Dipika commentary of
Chakrapani Datta. Shareera Sthana 7/4.
Reprint ed. Varanasi (India):
Chaukambha Orientalia; 2014:337.
7. Sharma PV. Sushruta Samhita with
Nibandhasangraha commentary of
Dalhanacharya. Shareera Sthana 4/4.
Reprint ed. Varanasi (India):
Chaukambha Orientalia; 2009:355.
8. Kunte AM, Navare KS. Ashtanga
Hridaya of Vagbhata with
Commentary: Sarvangasundara of
Arunadatta and Ayurvedarasayana of
Hemadri. Shareera Sthana 3/8. Reprint
ed. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia;
2014:386.
9. Srivatsava Sailaja. Sharangadhara
Samhita. Poorvakhanda, 5/18, 2nd
edi.Varanasi(India): Choukumbha
Orientalia; 1998:124.
10. Bhavprakash purvakhand Vidyotini
hindi commentary Brahma Shankar
Mishra Published by Chaukhamba
Sanskrit bhavan Varanasi; Eleventh
Edition Garbha Prakaran Ch.2010;3:85-
86.
11. Tortora Gerard J, principles of anatomy
and physiology, ed.USA,
Harpercollins8th Publishers; 1996:126.
12. Agnivesha, Charaka Samhita revised by
Charaka and Dridabala with Ayurveda
dipika commentary of Chakrapanidatta,
Edited by Yadavji Trikamji
Acharya,Chikitsa sthana 15th chapter,
7th Edition, Choukhambha Surbharati
Prakashan, Varanasi. 2005;738:514.
13. Sushruta, Sushruta Samhita,
Nibandhasangraha commentary of
Dalhanacharya and Nyayachandrika
Panchika commentary of Gayadasa,
Edited by Yadavji Trikamji Acharya,
Shareerasthana 4th Chapter, Reprint,
Choukhambha Orientalia, Varanasi.
2005;824:355.
14. Vagbhata, Ashtangahrdayam Sarvanga
sundari commentary of Arunadatta and
Ayurveda rasayana commentary of
Hemadri, edited by Bhishagacharya
HarishastriParadakara Vaidya,
Shareera sthana, 3rd Chapter, 9th
Edition, Choukhambha Orientalia,
Varanasi. 2002;956-386.
15. Keith L Moore. The developing human
clinically oriented embryology. 8th ed.
New Delhi: Elsevier India Pvt. Ltd,
2011:440-441.
16. Peltonen S, Raiko L, Peltonen J.
Desmosomes in developing human
epidermis. Dermatol Res Pract.
2010;2010:698761.
doi:10.1155/2010/698761
17. Keith L Moore. The developing human
clinically oriented embryology. 8th ed.
New Delhi: Elsevier India Pvt. Ltd;
2011 440-441.
18. Sharangdhar, Samhita, Dipika.
commentary by Bramhanand Tripathi
published by Chaukhamha surbharati
prakashan Varanasi reprinted edition
Sharangdhar purvakhand ch. 2010;5(1):
53.