In anatomy, a viscus (IPA: /ˈvɪskəs/) (plural: viscera /ˈvɪsərə/) is an internal organ of an animal (including humans), in particular an internal organ of the thorax or abdomen. The viscera, when removed from a butchered animal, are known collectively as offal. Internal organs are also known as "innards", or less formally, "guts" (which may also refer to the gastrointestinal tract).
The adjective visceral, also splanchnic,1 is used for anything pertaining to the internal organs. Historically, viscera of animals were examined by Roman pagan priests like the haruspices or the augurs in order to divine the future by their shape, dimensions or other factors.
Human viscera
- Further information: Organs of the human body by region
Abdomen
Pelvis and perineum
Innervation
The viscera are mainly innervated parasympathetically by the vagus nerve and sympathetically by the splanchnic nerves. The sensory part of the latter reaches the spinal column at certain spinal segments. Pain in any viscera is perceived as referred pain, more specifically pain from the dermatome (anatomy) corresponding to the spinal segment.2
| Viscus |
Nerves 3 |
Origo in spinal column3 |
| stomach |
|
T6, T7, T8, T9 and, sometimes, T10 |
| Duodenum |
|
T5, T6, T7, T8, T9 and, sometimes, T10 |
| pancreatic head |
|
T8, T9 |
| jejunum and ileum |
|
T5, T6, T7, T8, T9 |
| colon |
|
|
| Spleen |
|
T6, T7, T8 |
| vermiform appendix |
|
T10 |
| gallbladder and liver |
|
T6, T7, T8, T9 |
| kidneys and ureters |
|
T11, T12 |
References
- ^ Splanchnic at eMedicine Dictionary
- ^ Essential Clinical Anatomy. K.L. Moore & A.M. Agur. Lippincott, 2 ed. 2002. Page 199
- ^ a b Unless else specified in boxes, then ref is: Essential Clinical Anatomy. K.L. Moore & A.M. Agur. Lippincott, 2 ed. 2002. Page 199
See also
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