The loins, or lumbus, are the sides between the lower

rib In vertebrate anatomy, ribs ( la, costae) are the long curved bones which form the rib cage, part of the axial skeleton. In most tetrapods, ribs surround the chest, enabling the lungs to expand and thus facilitate breathing by expanding the ches ...

s and

pelvis The pelvis (plural pelves or pelvises) is the lower part of the trunk, between the abdomen and the thighs (sometimes also called pelvic region), together with its embedded skeleton (sometimes also called bony pelvis, or pelvic skeleton). The ...

, and the lower part of the back. The term is used to describe the anatomy of humans and quadrupeds, such as horses, pigs, or cattle. The anatomical reference also applies to particular cuts of meat, including tenderloin or sirloin steak.

Human anatomy

In human anatomy the term "loin" or "loins" refers to the side of the human body below the rib cage to just above the

. It is frequently used to reference the general area below the ribs. While the term "loin" is generally not used in medical science, some disorders do include the term. The

lumbar In tetrapod anatomy, lumbar is an adjective that means ''of or pertaining to the abdominal segment of the torso, between the diaphragm and the sacrum.'' The lumbar region is sometimes referred to as the lower spine, or as an area of the back i ...

region of the

spinal column The vertebral column, also known as the backbone or spine, is part of the axial skeleton. The vertebral column is the defining characteristic of a vertebrate in which the notochord (a flexible rod of uniform composition) found in all chordates ...

is located in the loin area of the body.

Society and culture

In contemporary usage the term appears primarily in two contexts: where loins are "girded" in preparation for a challenge, or else euphemistically referring to

human genitals The human reproductive system includes the male reproductive system which functions to produce and deposit sperm; and the female reproductive system which functions to produce egg cells, and to protect and nourish the fetus until birth. Humans ...

. In literature or poetry, to feel a "stirring" in one's loins may suggest sexual excitement. The word " loincloth" in the Bible, is used to refer to an item of clothing which covers the loins. The "fruit" of one's loins refers to offspring, and "fruit of my loins" also appears in the King James Version. Loins may refer generally to the lower area of the body, much like the term " below the belt" derives from a belt worn at the waist. When the long tunic of the Ancient era was the typical garment, the phrase "gird one's loins" described the process of raising and securing the lower portion of the tunic between one's legs to increase mobility for work or battle. In the modern age, it has become an

idiom An idiom is a phrase or expression that typically presents a figurative, non-literal meaning attached to the phrase; but some phrases become figurative idioms while retaining the literal meaning of the phrase. Categorized as formulaic language, ...

meaning to prepare oneself for action, as in:

Loins in butchery

Butchers refer to the section of

meat Meat is animal flesh that is eaten as food. Humans have hunted, farmed, and scavenged animals for meat since prehistoric times. The establishment of settlements in the Neolithic Revolution allowed the domestication of animals such as chic ...

below the rib cage, but above the round (in a carcass hanging from the head end) as ''loin''. Various names of meats further butchered from the loin section of cattle and pig contain the name "loin" such as tenderloin and sirloin. In American butchery of beef, the loin section of beef is further divided and named sirloin, top sirloin, short loin and tenderloin. In the British butchery of beef, the same section is generally referred to as the " rump". Cuts of pork of this section include pork loin and pork tenderloin. It has been suggested by culinary professionals that tenderloin is the most tender cut of beef one can get. The loin section of beef is fairly popular among consumers for its low fat qualities. It is the source of filet mignon.

References

{{Reflist, refs= {{cite web , title = BibleTab , work = Loincloth , year = 2005 , url = http://bibletab.com/l/loincloth.htm , access-date = 2008-06-26 Vertebrate anatomy pt:Quadril

Human anatomy

Society and culture

Loins in butchery

See also

References