Urvi Marma: Anatomical Location, Effect Of Injury

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) and Dr Manasa, B.A.M.S
Urvi Marma is one of the delicate and vital points of the body located in the lower limbs, in the thighs to be precise. It is represented by Baahvi Marma in the upper limb.

ऊरु मध्ये ऊर्वी नाम, तत्र शोणित क्षयात् सक्थि शोषः।(सु.शा.६)

Location, number

 Location – Urvi Marma is located in the thighs
Number –  2 in number, 1 in each thighs.

Exact location of Urvi Marma in the limbs:
Oorvi Marma is located exactly in the Sakthi Madhya (middle of the thigh), in both the thighs.

Categories

Categories in which the Oorvi Marma is included

Oorvi Marma is classified into various categories. They are as below mentioned –

1. i) Shaka Gata Marma (Shaaka=Limb) – Marmas located in the limbs.
   ii) Sira Marma – Oorvi marma is predominantly made up of Sira i.e. blood vessels, which form the structural component of this Marma. Therefore it is classified under Sira Marma. The other tissues are recessive and are present in less proportion, namely Snayu (ligaments, tendons, and nerves), Asthi (bone), Sandhi (joints) and Mamsa (muscles).

iii) Vaikalyakara Marmas – (Vaikalya – deformity, Kara – forming) – Urvi Marmas on getting injured causes vaikalya or deformity of the arm or upper limb. Since Oorvi Marma causes deformity, it is classified under Vaikalyakara Marma (deformity forming Marma).

Measurement

Pramana (measurement of Urvi Marma) –
Urvi Marma occupies a space of 1 angula dimension (1 angula is approximately equal to the horizontal dimension or breadth of middle segment of one’s own middle finger)

Effect of Injury

तत्र शोणित क्षयात् सक्थि शोषः।(सु.शा.६)

Injury leads to
Sakthi Shosha (emaciation of thigh due to loss of blood). It causes severe blood loss or shonita kshaya (hemorrhage) which in due course of time causes emaciation of the Sakthi (or thigh) or lower limb due to deficit blood supply.

Modern perspective

Modern Perspective (Practical anatomy) of Oorvi Marma
Structures falling in the area of Oorvi Marma –

• Adductor Canal
• Femoral arteries
• Femoral veins
• Femoral nerves

We can see the muscles, ligaments, tendons and other tissues too being present in this area comprising of Oorvi Marma but it is rich in blood vessels. Therefore it is a Sira Marma.

When the Oorvi Marma is injured, all the structures involved in any place of marma i.e. snayus (ligaments, tendons, nerves), asthi (bones), mamsa (muscles) and sandhi (joints) may be susceptible to get damaged but the sira (blood vessels) which chiefly make up the structure of Oorvi Marma tends to get injured to a severe extent in comparison to other structures. The impact of injury too will be chiefly due to the effect of injury to the sira component.

Just Before Finishing
Thighs are the stronger parts of the lower limbs parts. They are not only muscular but also have embedded within them many important blood vessels and nerves supplying the whole of the lower limbs. Injury to the blood vessels will lead to bleeding which further emaciates the muscles. This leads to functional abnormalities (deformities) of the lower limbs, thighs to be precise. Therefore any pain or worrying complaints in the thigh which runs for long course (chronic) of time or any injury leading to bleeding shouldn’t be ignored. They should be immediately addressed to prevent permanent damage to the limb.
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