splanchnology

Splanchnology is the branch of anatomy and physiology that concerns the viscera—the internal organs housed within the thoracic and abdominal cavities. It covers the structure, development, function, and pathology of visceral organs, including those of the digestive, urinary, endocrine, and reproductive systems, as well as the associated vascular, nervous, and lymphatic networks. In practice, the study of visceral organs is often divided into organ-specific disciplines such as gastroenterology, hepatology, nephrology, endocrinology, and gynecology, but splanchnology remains a historical or broad umbrella term for this domain.

Etymology: from Greek splánn (viscera, entrails) and -logia. The term appears in historical texts and is more common in veterinary anatomy than in contemporary human medicine.

Modern usage: in contemporary medicine, splanchnology is rarely used as a stand-alone discipline; the viscera are studied within system-based anatomy and clinical subspecialties. It remains a useful concept for discussions that emphasize the integrated function of abdominal and thoracic organs, their innervation by the splanchnic nerves, and their common vascular supply.

Significance: an understanding of splanchnology supports research and clinical work related to visceral circulation, organ development and pathology, visceral pain, transplantation, and comparative anatomy across species.