- somatic
- 1. Relating to the soma or trunk, the wall of the body cavity, or the body in general. SYN: parietal (2). 2. Relating to or involving the skeleton or skeletal (voluntary) muscle and the innervation of the latter, as distinct from the viscera or visceral (involuntary) muscle and its (autonomic) innervation. SYN: parietal (3). 3. Relating to the vegetative, as distinguished from the generative, functions. [G. somatikos, bodily]
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so·mat·ic sō-'mat-ik, sə- adj1 a) of, relating to, or affecting the body esp. as distinguished from the germ plasm or psyche: PHYSICALb) of, relating to, supplying, or involving skeletal muscles <the \somatic nervous system> <a \somatic reflex>2) of or relating to the wall of the body as distinguished from the viscera: PARIETALso·mat·i·cal·ly -i-k(ə-)lē adv* * *
adj.1. relating to the nonreproductive parts of the body. A somatic mutation cannot be inherited.2. relating to the body wall (i.e. excluding the viscera), e.g. somatic mesoderm. Compare splanchnic.3. relating to the body rather than the mind.* * *
so·mat·ic (so-matґik) [Gr. sōmatikos] 1. pertaining to or characteristic of the soma or body. 2. pertaining to the body wall in contrast to the viscera.
Medical dictionary. 2011.