Somatische

Somatic, derived from the Greek soma meaning "body," is an adjective used across biology, medicine, and psychology to refer to the body as distinct from the mind or from reproductive cells.

In biology, somatic cells constitute the tissues and organs of the body, in contrast to germ cells (sperm and eggs) that pass genetic information to offspring. Somatic cells divide by mitosis and are typically diploid. Somatic mutations are DNA alterations that occur in body cells after fertilization and are not inherited, but they can contribute to diseases such as cancer.

In anatomy and neuroscience, the somatic nervous system is the part of the peripheral nervous system responsible for voluntary movement and the transmission of sensory information to the central nervous system. This system is separate from the autonomic nervous system, which regulates involuntary functions.

In clinical psychology and psychiatry, somatic describes bodily symptoms or disorders influenced by psychological factors. Somatic symptom disorder, for example, involves significant focus on physical symptoms that may lack a clear medical explanation. The term psychosomatic is related and historically used, though somatic is now more common in clinical contexts.

In German-language usage, somatische is the feminine or neutral form of the adjective "somatisch." The root of the term in all these uses is the Greek soma, "body."