somático

Somático is an adjective used in several Romance languages and in English (somatic) to indicate a relation to the body, as opposed to the mind, spirit, or germ line. It derives from Latin somaticus and Greek sōma, meaning "body." In scientific contexts, the term has specific technical senses.

In biology, somatic cells are all the body’s cells except germ cells (gametes). They are typically diploid and divide by mitosis. Mutations in somatic cells can affect the individual but are not inherited by offspring, although somatic mosaicism can occur when different cells carry different genetic changes. The somatic nervous system, part of the peripheral nervous system, governs voluntary movements by innervating skeletal muscles and transmits sensory information to the central nervous system. This contrasts with the autonomic nervous system, which regulates involuntary functions.

In medicine and psychology, somatic-related terms refer to physical symptoms or bodily aspects. Somatic symptoms are real physical complaints, which may or may not have a detectable organic cause. Somatic symptom disorder describes a condition in which individuals experience excessive focus on physical symptoms and associated distress. The term is also used in botany and tissue culture to describe somatic cells capable of generating embryos or whole plants, a process known as somatic embryogenesis.

Overall, somático/somatic denotes bodily or corporeal aspects, distinct from mental, spiritual, or hereditary-germline dimensions.