thoracic

American  

[thaw-ras-ik, thoh-] / θɔˈræs ɪk, θoʊ- /

Also thoracal

adjective

1. of or relating to the thorax.

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thoracic British  

/ θɔːˈræsɪk /

adjective

1. of, near, or relating to the thorax

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thoracic Scientific  

/ thə-răs′ĭk /

1. Relating to or located in or near the thorax.

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Other Word Forms

• nonthoracic adjective
• postthoracic adjective
• prethoracic adjective
• subthoracal adjective
• subthoracic adjective
• transthoracic adjective

Etymology

Origin of thoracic

1650–60; < Medieval Latin thōrācicus < Greek thōrākikós. See thorac-, -ic

Explanation

Thoracic is a medical word for things pertaining to the thorax area of your body: your chest. You’re likely to see the word thoracic in biology class. The thorax is your chest: the area between your neck and abdomen. Therefore, this area is the thoracic region, and that word can be used for issues dealing with this area. Certain exercises are thoracic because they strengthen your chest muscles. Your pectoral muscles are in the thoracic area. Your heart is the most important part of the thoracic area. If you have thoracic pains, you should see a doctor.

Example Sentences

"He was critically ill. His heart stopped as soon as he arrived. We had to perform CPR," said lead author Ankit Bharat, a thoracic surgeon at Northwestern University.

From Science Daily • Mar. 18, 2026

This season, however, he was sidelined early on with a pinched thoracic nerve and pitched only 17 2/3 innings the rest of the season, finishing 5-3 with a 3.44 ERA.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 3, 2025

The operation to repair Froome's heart took place at the Sainte-Anne Toulon military hospital, which is the highest-level trauma centre in that part of France and specialises in thoracic surgery.

From BBC • Sep. 2, 2025

It was almost ordinary, like watching a woman perform thoracic surgery, or change a tire, or drive a car.

From Slate • Aug. 23, 2024

How, for instance, does a wing-making master gene “know” to build a wing in the second thoracic segment, and not, say, the first or third segment?

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee