Meaning & use
splanchnic
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Meaning
adjectivebefore a nounmedical
Connected with the internal organs of the body, especially the digestive organs in the abdomen.
Grammar: Used in anatomy before a noun: the splanchnic nerves.
Patterns
- splanchnic circulation
- splanchnic nerve
Blood flow to the gut is called the splanchnic circulation.
The surgeon studied the splanchnic nerves in the abdomen.
Shock can reduce splanchnic blood flow.
Common combinations
- splanchnic nerve
- The splanchnic nerve carries signals to the abdominal organs.
- splanchnic circulation
- Eating a large meal increases splanchnic circulation.
- splanchnic blood flow
- Splanchnic blood flow drops during intense exercise.
- splanchnic vein
- The splanchnic veins drain the digestive organs.
- splanchnic region
- Pain in the splanchnic region may signal a problem with the gut.
Synonyms and how they differ
- visceral
- Visceral also means relating to the internal organs but can describe deep gut feelings, so it is far more common in ordinary writing.
- abdominal
- Abdominal refers to the belly region as a whole, whereas splanchnic refers specifically to the organs inside it.
- intestinal
- Intestinal is narrower, describing only the intestines rather than all the internal organs.
Opposites
Word family
- splanchnology noun
- the study of the internal organs
- splanchnic nerves noun
- nerves supplying the abdominal organs
- viscera noun
- the internal organs of the body
Commonly confused: splanchnic or somatic?
splanchnic vs somatic
Somatic relates to the body wall, such as muscles and skin, while splanchnic relates to the internal organs.
Practice
Which blood supply would a doctor call splanchnic?
Choose one answer.
Splanchnic refers to the internal abdominal organs, so it covers blood to the gut. The other choices name other regions of the body.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “splanchnic”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.