The abdomen is the portion of the trunk between the thorax (chest) and the pelvis. It contains most digestive organs, as well as the spleen, kidneys, and major blood vessels, all supported by the peritoneum and muscles of the abdominal wall. The organs within the abdominal cavity are fundamental to critical processes, including digestion, metabolism, immune defense, and maintenance of the body’s internal chemical balance, or homeostasis.
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