Viscerales

Viscerales is a term used in anatomy and related fields to refer to the viscera, the internal organs of the body contained within the main cavities, especially the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic cavities. The term derives from Latin viscera and serves to distinguish these structures from the body wall and somatic tissues.

The major viscera include the heart, lungs, and other organs within the thorax, as well as the stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, adrenal glands, bladder, and the reproductive organs within the abdomen and pelvis. Viscera are organized into regional groups, with their own specific functions, yet they share common features such as being enveloped by serous membranes and receiving autonomic innervation.

Visceral organs are covered by serous membranes that form visceral layers, such as the visceral peritoneum on abdominal organs, the visceral pleura on the lungs, and the visceral pericardium around the heart. These are distinguished from parietal membranes, which line the body cavities. The viscera interact with the body through autonomic nerves and display visceral reflexes that regulate activities like digestion, respiration, and circulation.

Clinical and scientific usage extends to terms like visceral fat (fat surrounding internal organs) and visceral pain (pain arising from internal organs, often poorly localized and referred to other sites). In embryology, related concepts include visceral arches and gut-tube derivatives that contribute to organ development. Overall, viscerales describe the core internal organs and their physiological and anatomical context.