The term trunk is often used synonymously with the terms trunk or trunk of the body. It refers to the central part of the human body excluding the extremities, neck and head.
What is the trunk?
“Trunk” is a technical term used in the field of anatomy. It refers to the central section of the human body. Legs, arms, head and neck are not part of the torso. The torso is also referred to as the torso. It can be divided into four different sections. The lowest section of the torso is the pelvis. Above it are the abdomen (belly) and back (dorsum). The rib cage (thorax) and the chest (pectus) are also part of the trunk.
Anatomy and structure
The lower part of the trunk is the pelvis. It lies below the abdomen and above the legs. In humans, a distinction can be made between a large and a small pelvis. Strictly speaking, however, the large pelvis already belongs to the abdominal cavity. The pelvis consists of the pelvic organs and the bony pelvis. This in turn is formed by the two hip bones (ossa coxae). The hip bones each consist of the ilium, ischium and pubis. The area between the rib cage and the pelvis is called the abdomen. The upper limit of the abdomen is approximately at the level of the tip of the sternum, and the abdomen ends at the inguinal ligament. The cavity within the abdomen is called the peritoneal cavity or abdominal cavity. The abdominal cavity is bounded at the top by the diaphragm. The lower boundary is the ilium and the pelvic floor. The abdominal cavity is lined with peritoneum and contains the abdominal organs. The back is the posterior portion of the trunk. It extends from the lower part of the neck to the loin or coccyx. The spine, the posterior portions of the ribs, and soft tissues such as connective tissue and back muscles make up the back. The rib cage is formed by the thoracic spine, sternum and ribs. Within the rib cage lies the thoracic cavity. Because of the dome shape of the diaphragm, part of the abdominal cavity also protrudes into the thorax. On the outside and inside of the thorax, the respiratory muscles attach.
Function and tasks
First and foremost, the trunk with its skeleton and musculature provides stability. It is only thanks to the bones and muscles in the trunk that upright walking and standing are possible for humans at all. In addition, the trunk houses almost all the important organs of the body. Only the brain lies outside the torso. The stomach contains the stomach, small intestine, large intestine, spleen, pancreas and liver. These organs are mainly used for digestion. The liver is also the most important metabolic organ of the body. It plays an important role in processing nutrients and detoxifying the body. The kidneys also belong to the abdominal organs. They filter the blood and ensure the excretion of metabolic waste products. They are also responsible for regulating blood pressure and water retention. The heart and lungs are located in the thorax. The heart supplies blood to the entire body. In the lungs, the blood is enriched with oxygen. Carbon dioxide is removed from the blood here and exhaled. In the pelvic area are the bladder, the draining urinary tract and the sexual organs. Urine is excreted from the kidneys through the bladder and the draining urinary tract. The sexual organs are primarily used for reproduction.
Diseases
Given the many structures that comprise the trunk, it quickly becomes apparent that numerous diseases can arise in this area. Muscular dystrophies, for example, affect almost exclusively the muscles of the trunk. Muscular dystrophies are a group of muscle diseases associated with muscle weakness and wasting. They are usually inherited and are chronically progressive. There are a variety of diseases in the abdomen. Acute abdomen can be caused by appendicitis, gallstones, kidney stones or diverticulitis. Acute abdomen is characterized by sudden onset of severe abdominal pain. Of course, numerous tumor diseases can also occur in the abdomen. The most common tumors are located in the stomach, colon, liver or pancreas. Diseases in the area of the thorax can affect the lungs or heart. If the lungs are inflamed, this is called pneumonia. Other acute diseases of the lungs are bronchopneumonia or acute bronchitis.Chronic lung diseases include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchial asthma, emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, and diffuse idiopathic pulmonary cell hyperplasia (DIPNECH). A malignant neoplasm that originates from the cells of the bronchial tubes is called bronchial carcinoma or lung cancer. Bronchial carcinoma is the most common fatal cancer in Germany. The main risk factor is smoking. The heart can also become diseased. Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a chronic disease of the heart. It is caused by arteriosclerosis in the coronary vessels and can lead to a heart attack. In a heart attack, tissue is destroyed due to reduced blood flow. If the heart is no longer able to supply the body with sufficient blood, this is called heart failure. This can be divided into left heart failure, right heart failure and global failure. In carditis, the heart is inflamed. In myocarditis, the muscle layer of the heart is affected. In endocarditis, the inner lining of the heart is inflamed, and in pericarditis, the pericardium is inflamed. The cause of inflammation of the pelvic organs is often bacteria. It is not uncommon for these to be transmitted through sexual intercourse.
