Definition of thorax

The word "thorax" has its roots in ancient Greek. The Greek physician Galen (129-216 AD) used the term θώραξ (thórax) to refer to the chest cavity, including the thoracic cavity and the sternum. This word is derived from the Greek word θώρακς (thóraks), meaning "bust" or "torso". In Latin, the word "thorax" was adapted as "thorax", and it continued to be used in medical and scientific contexts to describe the chest cavity. Today, in both Latin and English, the term "thorax" refers to the area of the body between the neck and the abdomen, including the lungs, ribs, and other organs. In entomology, the term "thorax" is used to describe the middle segment of an insect's body, which includes the wings, legs, and breathing organs. This usage is thought to have originated from the similarity in shape and function between the thorax of insects and the human thorax.