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Background: Srotas are the channels or systems of transport and transformation in the Ayurvedic body. Their number, structure and disorders are described in the Samhitas, and the concept is used to explain the spread of disease and the action of treatment. Objective: To review the classical concept of srotas, the types described, the causes of their disorders (srotodushti), and to consider their relevance to current ideas in systems biology and clinical research. Methods: Classical texts were read in translation. PubMed was searched in November 2026 for papers on srotas, Ayurveda and related concepts. Results: The Charaka Samhita lists thirteen principal srotas (pranavaha, annavaha, udakavaha, rasavaha, raktavaha, mamsavaha, medovaha, asthivaha, majjavaha, shukravaha, mutravaha, purishavaha and svedavaha), with additional channels for women and for the mind. Disorders arise through four mechanisms: atipravritti, sanga, siragranthi and vimargagamana. Recent work uses srotas to explain hypertension, COVID-19 pathophysiology and metabolic heterogeneity. Conclusion: Srotas are best treated as functional transport and transformation networks that include, but are not limited to, anatomical channels. They may offer a useful scheme for describing systemic pathology and for generating hypotheses in systems biology.