Somatic
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The term somatic refers to the body, as distinct from some other entity, such as the mind. The word comes from the Greek word Σωματικóς (Somatikòs), meaning "of the body". It has different meanings in various disciplines.
In neurobiology, somatic can be an adjective referring to the soma, the part of the neuron containing the cell nucleus.
In anatomy, somatic can refer to the part of the nervous system that controls voluntary movement and sensation and judges relative effort and weight, called proprioception.
- In addition somatic muscles are basically those of the musculo-skeletal system (Source: Websters Dictionary)
In genetics, somatic can refer to a cell or tissue that resides outside the germline (see somatic cell). For example, a somatic mutation cannot be transmitted to descendants in animals.
In the philosophy of education, certain ideas that have to do with the body and the mind have been called somatics. According to the originator of this usage of the term, "somatic awareness allows a person to glean wisdom from within". (Hanna, Thomas. 1986. What is Somatic? Somatics. 5 (4), 4–9).
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Soma is the whole axial portion of an animal, including the head, neck, trunk, and tail; also "corporeal, pertaining to a body." Origin: NL, fr. Gr, the body. (Source: Websters Dictionary)
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