Körperabschnitt

Körperabschnitt is a German compound noun formed from Körper (body) and Abschnitt (section). The term is not as common as related words and appears mainly in descriptive or historical contexts. It can denote two main ideas: a part of a living organism’s body or a cross-section of a solid body produced by cutting with a plane or boundary.

In anatomical or medical language, Körperabschnitt may be used informally to refer to a region of the body, similar to Körperteil or Körperregion. In professional terminology, more precise terms are usually preferred, such as Kopf (head), Rumpf (trunk), and Gliedmaßen (limbs), or regional descriptors like thorakal or abdominal sections.

In geometry or physics, the standard term for the surface or shape obtained by intersecting a three-dimensional object with a plane is Körperschnitt. While some authors may encounter the form Körperabschnitt, it is considered less common and potentially ambiguous in technical writing.

Etymology and usage notes: the meaning of Körperabschnitt depends on context. When clarity is important, it is safer to use Körperschnitt for a cross-section and Körperteil or Körperregion for a specific body part. The term reflects the broad German practice of forming precise compounds from Körper and Abschnitt, with meaning guided by the surrounding terminology. See also Körperschnitt, Körperteil, Anatomie, Geometrie.