View source for Torso

{{Short description|Central part of the living body}}
{{other uses|Trunk (disambiguation)|Torso (disambiguation)}}
{{About|the animal central body part|the elephant body part|Proboscis}}

{{More citations needed|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox anatomy
| Name        = Torso
| Latin       = {{Lang|la|truncus}}
| Greek       = θύρσος (thúrsos)
| Image       = 
| Caption     = Human male torso
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| Vein        =
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| Lymph       =
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The '''torso''' or '''trunk''' is an [[anatomical terminology|anatomical term]] for the central part, or the [[core (anatomy)|core]], of the [[body (biology)|body]] of many [[animal]]s (including [[human]] beings), from which the [[head]], [[neck]], [[limb (anatomy)|limb]]s, [[tail]] and other [[appendage]]s extend.

The [[tetrapod]] torso — including that of a [[human body|human]] — can be divided into segments:

# The chest or '''upper torso'''.  This section is also called the ''thorax'' or the ''[[Chest|thoracic]]'' region''.''  This is where the [[forelimb]]s extend.
# The ''[[abdomen]].''  The ''abdomenal'' section ''is'' also known as the "mid-section" or [[midriff]].
# The ''[[pelvic|pelvis]]'' and ''[[perineum]].''

Sometimes the pelvic, perineal, and abdomenal regions are grouped together and called the '''lower torso.'''

The [[Hindlimb|hindlimbs]] extend from the lower torso.<ref>{{DorlandsDict|eight/000111388|trunk}}</ref>

The back is also part of the torso.

==Anatomy==
===Major organs===
[[File:Surface projections of the organs of the trunk.png|thumb|Surface projections of major organs of the torso, using the [[vertebral column]] and [[rib cage]] as main reference sources. ]]
In humans, most critical [[Organ (anatomy)|organs]], with the notable exception of the brain, are housed within the torso. In the upper chest, the [[heart]] and [[lungs]] are protected by the [[rib cage]], and the [[abdomen]] contains most of the organs responsible for [[digestion]]: the [[stomach]], which breaks down partially digested food via [[gastric acid]]; the [[liver]], which respectively produces [[bile]] necessary for digestion; the [[large intestine|large]] and [[small intestine]]s, which extract nutrients from food; the [[Human anus|anus]], from which [[human feces|fecal wastes]] are egested; the [[rectum]], which stores [[Human feces|feces]]; the [[gallbladder]], which stores and concentrates bile; the [[kidney]]s, which produce [[urine]], the [[ureter]]s, which pass it to the [[urinary bladder|bladder]] for storage; and the [[urethra]], which excretes urine and in a male passes [[sperm]] through the [[seminal vesicle]]s. Finally, the [[pelvic]] region houses both the male and female [[sex organs|reproductive organs]].
===Major muscle groups===
The torso also harbours many of the main groups of muscles in the [[tetrapod]] body, including the [[Pectoral muscles|pectoral]], [[Abdominal muscles|abdominal]], [[Lateral muscle|lateral]] and [[Epaxial and hypaxial muscles|epaxial muscles]].
===Nerve supply===
The organs, muscles, and other contents of the torso are supplied by nerves, which mainly originate as [[Nerve root|nerve roots]] from the thoracic and lumbar parts of the [[spinal cord]]. Some organs also receive a nerve supply from the [[vagus nerve]]. The [[cutaneous innervation|sensation to the skin]] is provided by the [[Lateral cutaneous branches of torso|lateral]] and dorsal cutaneous branches.
<gallery heights="300" widths="150">
Gray797.png|Distribution of cutaneous nerves. Ventral aspect. Dorsal and lateral cutaneous branches labeled at center right.
Gray798.png|Dorsal aspect. Ventral and lateral cutaneous branches labeled at center right.
</gallery>
{{Clear}}

==See also==
{{Commons category|Torsos}}
* [[Belly cast]]
* [[Waist]]
* [[Belvedere Torso]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{wiktionary|trunk}}

{{Human regional anatomy}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Torso| ]]