Torso

Torso
The human male torso.
Details
Identifiers
Latin	truncus
MeSH	D060726
TA98	A01.1.00.013 A14.1.09.244 A14.2.03.003
TA2	124
FMA	7181
Anatomical terminology

This article is about the animal anatomy. For the movie by the same name, see Torso (1973 film). For other uses, see Torso (disambiguation).

Trunk or 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. The trunk includes the thorax and abdomen.

Anatomy

Major organs

Surface projections of major organs of the trunk, using the vertebral column and rib cage as main reference sources.

Most critical organs are housed within the trunk. 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 trunk also harbours many of the main groups of muscles in 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

See also

• Belly cast
• Waist