thorax [thaw-racks, thaw-rass-seez] Noun
pl thoraxes or thoraces
1. the part of the human body enclosed by the ribs
2. the part of an insect's body between the head and abdomen [Greek: breastplate, chest]
thoracic adj
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | thorax - the middle region of the body of an arthropod between the head and the abdomenarthropod - invertebrate having jointed limbs and a segmented body with an exoskeleton made of chitin body part - any part of an organism such as an organ or extremity |
| 2. | thorax - the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebratescraniate, vertebrate - animals having a bony or cartilaginous skeleton with a segmented spinal column and a large brain enclosed in a skull or cranium body part - any part of an organism such as an organ or extremity breastbone, sternum - the flat bone that articulates with the clavicles and the first seven pairs of ribs thoracic aorta - a branch of the descending aorta; divides into the iliac arteries gall bladder, gallbladder - a muscular sac attached to the liver that stores bile (secreted by the liver) until it is needed for digestion area of cardiac dullness - a triangular area of the front of the chest (determined by percussion); corresponds to the part of the heart not covered by the lungs torso, trunk, body - the body excluding the head and neck and limbs; "they moved their arms and legs and bodies" chest cavity, thoracic cavity - the cavity in the vertebrate body enclosed by the ribs between the diaphragm and the neck and containing the lungs and heart breast, chest - the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen; "he beat his breast in anger" rib cage - the bony enclosing wall of the chest |
| 3. | thorax - part of an insect's body that bears the wings and legsinsect - small air-breathing arthropod prothorax - the anterior part of an insect's thorax; bears the first pair of legs body part - any part of an organism such as an organ or extremity |