thorax

American  

[thawr-aks, thohr-] / ˈθɔr æks, ˈθoʊr- /

noun

plural

thoraxes, thoraces

1. Anatomy. the part of the trunk in humans and higher vertebrates between the neck and the abdomen, containing the cavity, enclosed by the ribs, sternum, and certain vertebrae, in which the heart, lungs, etc., are situated; chest.

2. Zoology. a corresponding part in other animals.

3. (in insects) the portion of the body between the head and the abdomen.

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thorax British  

/ ˈθɔːræks /

noun

1. the part of the human body enclosed by the ribs

2. the corresponding part in other vertebrates

3. the part of an insect's body between the head and abdomen, which bears the wings and legs

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thorax Scientific  

/ thôr′ăks′ /

plural

thoraxes

1. The upper part of the trunk in vertebrate animals. The thorax includes the rib cage, which encloses the heart and lungs. In mammals, the thorax lies above the abdomen and below the neck.

2. The middle division of the body of an insect, to which the wings and legs are attached. The thorax lies between the head and the abdomen.

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thorax Cultural  

1. The part of the body between the neck and diaphragm; the chest.

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Etymology

Origin of thorax

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin thōrāx < Greek thṓrāx breastplate, part of body which this covers

Explanation

A thorax is the middle section of a body. If you’re a human, the thorax is your chest, which includes the heart and lungs. If you’re a wasp, the thorax includes the wings and legs. Also, if you’re a wasp, go away. If you feel pain in your thorax, it may be coming from sore chest muscles or a bruised rib, or it could be more serious, since your thorax includes your heart. Having a bad cough or difficulty breathing affects your thorax as well. Still, this anatomical term is most likely to be used by a doctor or a scientist such as an entomologist, a person who studies bugs. It's the same word, thorax, in both Latin and Greek, meaning "breastplate or chest."

Example Sentences

They’re mostly black except for yellow splotches on the top of their thorax and heads.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 24, 2023

Some drones got little paper tags containing an individual code as well as a code for the orientation on the thorax.

From Science Daily • Oct. 11, 2023

Then the researchers studied each specimen directly and took a piece of its thorax for DNA sequencing.

From Scientific American • Mar. 8, 2023

Another intern taught her how to spread the jam evenly, monitor the drying process, then use tweezers to assemble the head, thorax, abdomen and wings.

From New York Times • Jan. 9, 2023

Bobby Gene’s eyes grew bigger, taking in the flames on the thorax and the bright green of the whole Grasshopper.

From "The Season of Styx Malone" by Kekla Magoon

Related Words

• breast
• heart
• rib cage