toracic

Toracic is an adjective relating to the thorax, the central chest region of the body. In contemporary medical and anatomical English, the preferred term is thoracic; toracic is an alternate spelling or older usage that may appear in some texts or in non-English languages.

Anatomically, the thorax encompasses the thoracic cage, which consists of the sternum, 12 pairs of ribs, and their associated costal cartilages, along with the thoracic vertebrae. The thoracic cavity lies within this cage and houses vital organs such as the heart and lungs, separated from the abdominal cavity by the diaphragm. The thoracic wall is supported by muscles including the intercostal muscles and, inferiorly, the diaphragm, which assists in respiration. The region also contains structures of the mediastinum, such as major vessels, the trachea, and part of the esophagus.

In medical literature, toracic terms may be encountered in references to the thoracic spine (as opposed to the thoracic spine) or to other thoracic structures. However, most current sources standardize the spelling as thoracic to describe the same anatomical regions and clinical entities. The distinction between toracic and thoracic is primarily orthographic; the underlying anatomy and physiology remain the same, with thoracic serving as the widely accepted term in modern usage.

See also: thorax, thoracic cavity, thoracic spine.