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thorax definition

tho·rax (t̸hôr′aks′)

noun pl. thoraxes -·rax′es or thoraces -·ra·ces′ (-ə sēz′)

  1. in tetrapods, including humans,
    1. the part of the body cavity from the neck or head to the abdomen, containing the heart, lungs, etc.; chest: in mammals, the diaphragm separates it from the abdomen
    2. the area of the trunk covering this part
  2. in arthropods, the body segment between the head and abdomen to which the legs are attached

Etymology: ME < L < Gr thōrax, chest, breastplate

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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