thorax

[ thawr-aks, thohr- ]

noun

, plural tho·rax·es, tho·ra·ces [thawr, -, uh, -seez, thohr, -].

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.

thorax

/ 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

thorax

/ thôr′ăks′ /

, Plural thoraxes thôr′ə-sēz′

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.

thorax

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of thorax¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of thorax¹

C16: via Latin from Greek thōrax breastplate, chest

Example Sentences

They take these antibiotics from the metapleural gland, which is located on the side of their thorax.

From Science Daily

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

From Seattle Times

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

From Science Daily

The probable cause of death was a “violent shock to the thorax caused by a projectile of the ‘flashball’ type,” commonly used by French police for riot control.

From Seattle Times

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

From Scientific American

Related Words

• breast
• heart
• rib cage