torso: Definition from Answers.com

For other uses, see Torso (disambiguation).

The human male torso (Gray's Anatomy).

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.

1 Anatomy
2 References
3 See also

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 groups of muscles in the body, including the:

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:

References

This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2007)

General structures	body of vertebra, vertebral arch (pedicle, lamina, vertebral notch), foramina (vertebral, intervertebral), processes (transverse, articular/zygapophysis, spinous), spinal canal

Cervical vertebrae	C1 (anterior arch, posterior arch, lateral mass), C2 (dens), C3, C4, C5, C6, C7 anterior tubercle, posterior tubercle, foramen transversarium

Thoracic vertebrae	T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7, T8, T9, T10, T11, T12 costal facets (superior, inferior, transverse)

Lumbar vertebrae	accessory process, mammillary process, L5

Sacrum	pelvic surface (anterior sacral foramina), dorsal surface (posterior sacral foramina, median sacral crest, medial sacral crest, lateral sacral crest), lateral surface (sacral tuberosity), base, sacral hiatus · presacral space · sacral promontory · sacral canal · ala of sacrum · sacrovertebral angle

Coccyx

Joints and ligaments of torso (TA A03.02-04, GA 3.299)

Vertebral column

Syndesmosis

articulations of vertebral bodies: anterior longitudinal ligament · posterior longitudinal ligament
articulations of vertebral arches: ligamenta flava · supraspinous ligament (nuchal ligament) · interspinal ligament · intertransverse ligament

Synchondrosis

intervertebral disc (annulus fibrosus, nucleus pulposus)

Synovial joint

Atlanto-axial (lat + med)	capsule · atlantoaxial ligaments (anterior, posterior) · Cruciate ligament of atlas (Transverse ligament of atlas) Alar ligament · Apical ligament of dens · Tectorial membrane of atlanto-axial joint

Zygapophysial	no ligaments

Lumbosacral	iliolumbar ligament

Sacrococcygeal	anterior sacrococcygeal ligament · posterior sacrococcygeal ligament

Thorax

Costovertebral	articulation of head of rib: radiate ligament · interarticular ligament costotransverse: Lumbocostal ligament

Sternocostal	interarticular sternocostal ligament · radiate sternocostal ligaments · costoxiphoid ligaments

Interchondral	no ligaments

Costochondral	no ligaments

Pelvis

Syndesmoses of pelvic girdle	Obturator membrane · Obturator canal

Pubic symphysis	superior pubic ligament · inferior pubic ligament

Sacroiliac	anterior sacroiliac ligament · posterior sacroiliac ligament · interosseous sacroiliac ligament ligaments connecting the sacrum and ischium: sacrotuberous ligament · sacrospinous ligament Greater sciatic foramen · Lesser sciatic foramen

List of muscles of torso (TA A04.3-5, GA 4.397)

Back

splenius (capitis, cervicis) · erector spinae (iliocostalis, longissimus, spinalis) · latissimus dorsi

transversospinales: (semispinalis dorsi, semispinalis cervicis, semispinalis capitis, multifidus, rotatores) · interspinales · intertransversarii

Vertebral column: trapezius · latissimus dorsi · rhomboid (major, minor) · levator scapulae

fascia: Thoracolumbar fascia

Thorax

intercostales (external, internal, innermost) · subcostales · transversus thoracis · levatores costarum · serratus posterior (inferior, superior) · diaphragm

Thoracic cavity: pectoralis major · pectoralis minor · subclavius · serratus anterior

fascia: Pectoral fascia · Clavipectoral fascia

Abdominopelvic

Abdomen/
wall

Anterior/ lateral	Abdominal external oblique · Transversus abdominis/Conjoint tendon · Rectus sheath (rectus abdominis, pyramidalis) · Arcuate line · Tendinous intersection Cremaster · Abdominal internal oblique Fascia/abdominal fascia: panniculus adiposus (Fascia of Camper) · stratum membranosum (Fascia of Scarpa) · Transversalis fascia (Interfoveolar ligament) Linea alba · Linea semilunaris · Inguinal triangle Inguinal canal (Deep inguinal ring, Superficial inguinal ring, Intercrural fibers, Crura of superficial inguinal ring) Inguinal ligament (Pectineal ligament, Lacunar ligament, Reflected ligament)

Posterior	quadratus lumborum · psoas major/psoas minor · iliacus · iliopsoas fascia (Iliac fascia/Iliopectineal arch)

Pelvis

levator ani (iliococcygeus, pubococcygeus, puborectalis) · coccygeus

fascia/pelvic fascia visceral (Rectovaginal fascia, Rectoprostatic fascia) · parietal (Obturator fascia/Tendinous arch, Piriformis fascia)

floor/diaphragm: Superior fascia of pelvic diaphragm (Pubovesical ligament, Puboprostatic ligament) · Inferior fascia of pelvic diaphragm

Anococcygeal body

Anatomy of torso, cardiovascular system: heart (TA A12.1, GA 5.524)

General

Surface	base · apex · grooves (coronary/atrioventricular, interatrial, anterior interventricula, posterior interventricular) · surfaces (sternocostal, diaphragmatic) · borders (right, left) · Openings of smallest cardiac veins

Internal	atria (interatrial septum, musculi pectinati, sulcus terminalis) · ventricles (interventricular septum, trabeculae carneae, chordae tendineae, papillary muscle) · valves · cusps · Atrioventricular septum cardiac skeleton (fibrous trigone, fibrous rings) Intervenous tubercle

Chambers

Right heart	(vena cavae, coronary sinus) → right atrium (atrial appendage, fossa ovalis, limbus of fossa ovalis, crista terminalis, valve of inferior vena cava, valve of coronary sinus) → tricuspid valve → right ventricle (conus arteriosus, moderator band/septomarginal trabecula) → pulmonary valve → (pulmonary artery and pulmonary circulation)

Left heart	(pulmonary veins) → left atrium (atrial appendage) → mitral valve → left ventricle → aortic valve (aortic sinus) → (aorta and systemic circulation)

Layers

Endocardium	Heart valves

Myocardium	Conduction system: Cardiac pacemaker · SA node · AV node · bundle of His · Purkinje fibers

Pericardial cavity	Pericardial sinus

Pericardium	fibrous pericardium (Sternopericardiac ligaments) · serous pericardium (epicardium/visceral layer) · Fold of the left vena cava

heart navs: anat/physio/dev, noncongen/congen/neoplasia, symptoms+signs/eponymous, proc

Anatomy: lower respiratory system (TA A06.3-5, GA 11.1084)

Lower RT

Trachea

Tracheal rings · Annular ligaments of trachea · Carina

Lungs

Surface

right/left · apex/base/root/hilum · cardiac impression/cardiac notch/lingula

borders (anterior, posterior, inferior)

surfaces (costal, mediastinal, diaphragmatic)

fissures (oblique, horizontal)

Airway

Conducting zone	bronchi · main bronchus (right, left) · lobar/secondary bronchi (eparterial bronchus) · segmental/tertiary bronchi (bronchopulmonary segment) · bronchiole · terminal bronchiole

Respiratory zone	respiratory bronchiole · alveolar duct · alveolus · alveolar-capillary barrier

respiratory system navs: anat nose,larynx/lower+thoracic cavity/physio/dev, noncongen/congen/tumors, symptoms+signs/eponymous, proc

List of arteries of torso – abdomen (TA A12.2.12-15, GA 6.598)

Posterior

visceral

middle suprarenal · renal (inferior suprarenal, ureteral) · gonadal (testicular ♂ / ovarian ♀)

parietal

inferior phrenic (superior suprarenal) · lumbar · median sacral · Coccygeal glomus

terminal/
common iliac

IIA

EIA

inferior epigastric (cremasteric, round ligament) · deep circumflex iliac · femoral

Veins of the torso (TA A12.3.01-04, 07, 09-10, GA 7.664)

Thorax

Vertebral column

vertebral venous plexuses (external, internal) · spinal (posterior, anterior) · basivertebral · intervertebral

Abdomen/pelvis

To azygos system

ascending lumbar (subcostal)

IVC
(Systemic)

To IVC or left renal vein

inferior phrenic · hepatic (central veins of liver, liver sinusoid) · suprarenal · renal · gonadal (ovarian ♀/testicular ♂, pampiniform plexus ♂) · lumbar · common iliac

Common iliac

Unpaired	median sacral vein

External iliac	inferior epigastric · deep circumflex iliac vein

Internal iliac	posterior: iliolumbar · superior gluteal · lateral sacral anterior: inferior gluteal · obturator · uterine ♀ (uterine plexus ♀) · vesical (vesical plexus, prostatic plexus ♂, deep of penis ♂/clitoris ♀, posterior scrotal ♂/labial ♀) · vaginal plexus/vein ♀ · middle rectal · internal pudendal (inferior rectal, bulb of penis ♂/vestibule ♀) · rectal plexus

Portal vein
(Portal)

Splenic	short gastric · left gastroepiploic · pancreatic · inferior mesenteric (superior rectal, left colic)

Superior mesenteric	right gastroepiploic · pancreaticoduodenal · jejunal · ileal · middle colic · right colic · ileocolic (appendicular)

Direct	cystic · left gastric/esophageal · right gastric · paraumbilical

Nerves of lower limbs and lower torso: the lumbosacral plexus (L1-Co) (TA A14.2.05-07, GA 9.948)

lumbar
plexus
(L1-L4)

sacral
plexus
(L4-S4)

coccygeal
plexus
(S4-Co)

pudendal: inferior anal · perineal (deep, posterior scrotal ♂/labial ♀) · dorsal of the penis ♂/clitoris ♀
anococcygeal

cutaneous innervation of the lower limbs

Anatomy of torso (primarily): the spinal cord (TA 14.1.02, GA 9.749)

External, dorsal

Posterior median sulcus · Posterolateral sulcus

Grey matter/
Rexed laminae

I-VI: Posterior horn	I: Marginal nucleus · II: Substantia gelatinosa of Rolando · III+IV: Nucleus proprius · Spinal lamina V · Spinal lamina VI

VII: Lateral horn	Intermediolateral nucleus · Posterior thoracic nucleus

VIII-IX: Anterior horn	Interneuron · Alpha motor neuron (Onuf's nucleus)

X: Other	Central gelatinous substance · Gray commissure Central canal

White matter

somatic/ ascending (blue)	Posterior/PCML: touch: Gracile · Cuneate Lateral: proprioception: Spinocerebellar (Dorsal, Ventral) · pain/temp: Spinothalamic (Lateral, Anterior) · Posterolateral (Lissauer) · Spinotectal Spinoreticular tract · Spino-olivary tract

motor/ descending (red)	Lateral: Corticospinal (Lateral) · Ep (Rubrospinal, Olivospinal) Anterior: Corticospinal (Anterior) · Ep (Vestibulospinal, Reticulospinal, Tectospinal)

both	Anterior white commissure

External, ventral

Anterior median fissure

External, general

Cervical enlargement · Lumbar enlargement · Conus medullaris · Filum terminale · Cauda equina

v • d • e Lymphatics of torso (TA A13.3.02-04, GA 8.703)

Chest	Right lymphatic duct · Thoracic duct (spans diaphragm) Bronchomediastinal lymph trunk (Tracheobronchial, Parasternal) · Intercostal

Abdomen	Cisterna chyli Lumbar trunk · lumbar/paraaortic: Retroaortic · Lateral aortic · iliac: Common (External, Internal, Sacral) Intestinal trunk · preaortic: Celiac (Gastric, Hepatic, Splenic) · Superior mesenteric (Mesenteric, Ileocolic, Mesocolic) · Inferior mesenteric (Pararectal) Retroperitoneal lymph nodes

Anatomy of torso, digestive system: Gastrointestinal tract, excluding mouth (TA A05.3-7, GA 11.1141)

Upper GI

Lower GI

Intestine: small	Duodenum (Suspensory muscle, Major duodenal papilla, Minor duodenal papilla, Duodenal cap) • Duodenojejunal flexure • Jejunum • Ileum (Terminal ileum) • Ileocecal valve continuous (intestinal villus, crypts of Lieberkühn, circular folds)

Intestine: large	Vermiform appendix • Cecum • Colon (ascending colon, hepatic flexure, transverse colon, splenic flexure, descending colon, sigmoid colon) continuous (taenia coli, haustra, epiploic appendix)

Termination	Rectum: Houston valve • rectal ampulla • pectinate line Anal canal: anal valves • anal sinuses • anal columns • Hilton's white line Anus: Sphincter ani internus muscle • Sphincter ani externus muscle

Lymph	GALT: Peyer's patches (M cells)

digestive system navs: anat of tract,glands,perit,diaphragm/physio/dev, noncongen/congen/congen of d+w/neoplasia, symptoms+signs/eponymous, proc

Anatomy of torso, digestive system: accessory digestive glands (TA A05.8-9, GA 11.1188)

Liver

by region: Left lobe (Caudate lobe, Quadrate lobe) • Right lobe • Transverse fissure of liver • Bare area of the liver
by function: Fibrous capsule of Glisson • Hepatocyte • Space of Disse • Space of Mall • Kupffer cell • Liver sinusoid • Hepatic stellate cell • Hepatic lobule

Biliary tract

Bile ducts	intrahepatic: Bile canaliculus • Canals of Hering • Interlobular bile ducts • Intrahepatic bile ducts • Left and Right hepatic ducts extrahepatic: Common hepatic duct • Cystic duct • Common bile duct

Gallbladder	by region: Body • Fundus • Neck

Pancreas

by region: Tail • Body • Neck • Head • Uncinate process

by function: Islets of Langerhans • Exocrine pancreas

ducts: Pancreatic duct • Accessory pancreatic duct

Common

Hepatopancreatic ampulla • Sphincter of Oddi

digestive system navs: anat of tract,glands,perit,diaphragm/physio/dev, noncongen/congen/congen of d+w/neoplasia, symptoms+signs/eponymous, proc

Abdominopelvic cavity (TA A10, GA 4.408)

Abdomen/
Abdominal cavity

General	Peritoneal cavity · Paracolic gutters · Paramesenteric gutters · Cystohepatic triangle · Abdominal wall (Inguinal triangle)

Posterior	Extraperitoneal space (Retroperitoneum)

Pelvis/
Pelvic cavity

Extraperitoneal space (Retropubic space)

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	twisted column (architecture)
	Visceral (in medicine)
	body suit

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torso

Contents

Anatomy

Major organs

Major muscle groups

Innervation

References

See also