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Torso

Torso

Torso is an anatomical term for the central part of the many animal bodies (including that of the human) from which extend the neck and limbs. It is sometimes referred to as the trunk. The torso includes the thorax and abdomen.

Anatomy

Major organs

Most critical organs are housed within the torso. In the upper chest, the heart and lungs are protected by the rib cage, and the abdomen contains the majority of organs responsible for digestion: the liver, which respectively produces bile necessary for digestion; the large and small intestines, which extract nutrients from food; the anus, from which fecal wastes are excreted; the rectum, which stores feces; the gallbladder, which stores and concentrates bile and produces chyme; the ureters, which passes urine to the bladder; the bladder, which stores urine; and the urethra, which excretes urine and passes sperm through the seminal vesicles. Finally, the pelvic region houses both the male and female reproductive organs.

Major muscle groups

The torso also harbours many of the main muscle groups of the body, including the:
*pectoral muscles
*abdominal muscles
*lateral muscle

Innervation

The organs and muscles etc. are innervated by various nerves, mainly originating from thoracic vertebral segments. For instance, the cutaneous innervation is provided by:
* Ventral cutaneous branches
* Lateral cutaneous branches
* Dorsal cutaneous branches

References

ee also

*Belly cast
*Waist

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Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Torso — vom Belvedere Einen Torso (pl. Torsos oder Torsi; ital. von lat. tursus von griech. thyrsos; Bedeutung jeweils: Strunk, Stumpf) nennt man unter anderem einen menschlichen Körper, bei dem Arme, Beine sowie der Kopf nicht vorh …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Torsö — Localización País …   Wikipedia Español

  • Torso — Sm Statue mit unvollständigen Gliedmaßen per. Wortschatz fach. (18. Jh.) Entlehnung. Entlehnt aus it. torso, eigentlich Strunk, Fruchtkern , dieses über spätlateinische Zwischenstufen aus l. thyrsus Stengel, Strunk , aus gr. (poet.) thýrsos (mit… …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

  • Torso — Tor so, n.; pl. E. {Torsos}, It. {Torsi}. [It. torso, probably fr. L. thyrsus a stalk, stem, thyrsus, Gr. ?; cf. OHG. torso, turso, a stalk, stem, G. dorsche a cabbage stalk. Cf. {Thyrsus}, {Truss}.] The human body, as distinguished from the head …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Torsö — Géographie Pays  Suede !Suède Localisation Vänern Coordonnées …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Torso — Torso, bedeutet in der Kunstsprache den Rumpf einer Statue, der Kopf, Arme und Beine fehlen. Man hat dergleichen von so schöner Arbeit und Beachtung der Körperverhältnisse gefunden, daß die Alterthumsforscher in der Beschreibung ihrer Schönheit… …   Damen Conversations Lexikon

  • Torsö — is the biggest island of the lake Vänern. Torsö is located in Mariestad Municipality …   Wikipedia

  • torso — / torso/ s.m. [lat. tardo tursus (class. thyrsus, dal gr. thýrsos )]. 1. a. (bot.) [fusto di alcune piante, spec. del cavolo, privato delle foglie e dei fiori]. ▶◀ ‖ cannocchio, tutolo. b. (estens.) [parte centrale di una mela o di una pera,… …   Enciclopedia Italiana

  • torso — (n.) 1797, from It. torso trunk of a statue, originally stalk, stump, from V.L. *tursus, from L. thyrsus stalk, stem, from Gk. thyrsos (see THYRSUS (Cf. thyrsus)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • Torso — Torso: Die Bezeichnung für »Bruchstück, insbesondere einer Bildhauerarbeit; (übertragen:) unvollendetes Werk« wurde im 18. Jh. aus gleichbed. it. torso entlehnt. Das it. Wort bedeutet eigentlich »Kohlstrunk, Fruchtkern«. Es beruht auf spätlat.… …   Das Herkunftswörterbuch