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Difference between revisions of "Anatomy"

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(complete rewrite to fall closer inline with dwarf anatomy)
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{{Quality|Superior|21:17, 20 September 2016 (UTC)}}
 
{{Quality|Superior|21:17, 20 September 2016 (UTC)}}
 
{{av}}
 
{{av}}
[[File:all_organs.png|200px|right]]This page contains a list of all the body parts in the game.
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[[File:all_organs.png|200px|right]]This page details the constituent limbs and organs one can expect to find in a dwarf's body. This information is based on data from <code>\raw\objects\body_default.txt</code> and <code>\raw\objects\creature_standard.txt</code>.
 +
 
 +
This information is up-to-date as of Dwarf Fortress version 0.47.05.
 +
 
 +
=Structure=
  
 
==Head==
 
==Head==
  
*[[Hair]]
+
===Components===
*[[Eye]]s
+
 
:Eyes, while not essential for life, are bad to lose.  The loss of one or both eyes alone will not cause death, but may have other adverse effects. If both eyes are lost then the creature will lose its vision. Currently, eyes cannot be entirely lost, only damaged.
+
====Hair====
:*Eyelids
+
[[Hair]] is common to many creatures, not the least dwarves. Dwarves can exhibit facial hair from birth, though female dwarves do not grow any by default (this <s>mistake</s> can be <s>corrected</s> changed in <code>creature_standard.txt</code> under the token <code>[CASTE:FEMALE]</code>).
::These can be damaged and Toady believes that eyes will be washed with soap if they cannot be washed by the eyelids due to injury.
+
 
*[[Brain]]
+
====Eyes====
:Any major damage to the brain will likely result in [[death]]. Minor damage may result in [[Symptom#Unconsciousness|unconsciousness]].
+
Eyes allow dwarves to use sight to view the world around them and make decisions based on visual information. Losing both eyes can [[Wound#Blindness|render a dwarf blind]], resulting in a dramatic decrease in situational awareness and crafting quality.
 +
 
 +
====Nose====
 +
Noses allow dwarves to smell things that [[DF2014:Smell|emit odors]]. A dwarf without a nose cannot smell, and will generate no thoughts upon encountering odors - including miasma.
 +
 
 +
====Mouth====
 +
Mouths contain teeth and are used for biting. Interestingly, they are only considered in combat; even if a dwarf somehow loses their mouth, they can still eat meals and talk to other dwarves.
 +
 
 +
An interesting point to note is that both the mouth and nose can be removed and the dwarf will still be able to breathe.
 +
 
 +
====Ears====
 +
Ears are used to hear [[DF2014:Noise|noises]]. To a dwarf, the only noises that matter are those from tasks that modify tiles, such as mining, carving/smoothing, and woodcutting. Losing both ears renders dwarves deaf, and thus unable to hear noises.
 +
 
 +
===Organs===
 +
 
 +
====Brain====
 +
**Brains allow dwarves to think and are critical to survival. If the brain experiences any damage beyond bruising, it may result in loss of consciousness or even death.
  
 
==Upper Body==
 
==Upper Body==
  
*[[Lung]]s
+
===Structure===
:Damage to one or both lungs can be sustained, but will cause difficulty of breath and may result in a loss of speed. Major damage will cause death.
+
 
*[[Heart]]
+
====Neck====
:Major damage to the heart will cause certain death.
+
Necks contain part of the upper spine and connect the head to the torso. They contain nervous pathways that are critical to life. Damage to the neck may result in full body paralysis, followed by death.
*Stomach
+
 
:It's bad if it's damaged.  Anything with a stomach will retch and then puke if the stomach is broken.
+
====Throat====
*[[Liver]]
+
Throats are the forward-facing portion of the neck. They can be strangled to induce unconsciousness, and contain major arteries that can cause rapid death when opened by attacks.
:Used for processing [[alcohol]]. Dwarven livers are much stronger than human livers and have never been damaged by alcohol.  The loss of a liver is a terrible thing for a dwarf.  
+
 
*Guts
+
====Upper Torso====
:Under pressure, and can pop out of a wound. Also damage here causes vomiting and pain
+
The upper torso contains critical organs used for sustained life functions. Damage to the chest often results in damage to these critical organs, which can quickly result in death. The upper torso connects the neck and the lower torso, and attaches both arms to the body.
*Arms
+
 
:*Upper Arms
+
====Arms====
:*Lower Arms
+
Arms are used for general physical interaction with the world, including lifting and carrying objects, wrestling with combatants, and grasping items. They may also be used for mobility if the dwarf does not have the ability to stand, which may arise from loss or impairment of the legs.
:*Hands
+
 
::*Fingers
+
*Upper arm
:::*[[Nail]]s
+
**The upper arm connects the torso and the lower arm.
Is also considered the main part of every creature. In general, when this is gone, the creature is dead, and this is the part that decides what the corpse is and what the severed parts are.
+
 
 +
*Lower arm
 +
**The lower arm connects the upper arm and the hand.
 +
 
 +
*Hand
 +
**Hands are used for attacks and grasping, and are typically populated with five fingers, including the thumb. A dwarf may experience difficulty grasping if one or more fingers are missing from the hand, and will completely lose their ability to grasp if all fingers are lost.
 +
 
 +
===Organs===
 +
 
 +
====Heart====
 +
Hearts are necessary to circulate a dwarf's dwarf blood around their dwarf body. Without it, dwarves very quickly die; serious injuries such as punctures can also lead to rapid death.
 +
 
 +
====Lungs====
 +
Lungs allow dwarves to breathe. Loss of one can impair a dwarf's stamina and can cause the dwarf to become Winded when doing basic tasks; loss of both causes death by suffocation.
 +
 
 +
====Stomach====
 +
Stomachs would be used to digest food, but their presence is mostly decorative. A dwarf with a missing stomach can still eat. Strikes to the stomach can cause nausea and vomiting.
 +
 
 +
====Liver====
 +
Livers are used to determine how well a given creature can hold its liquor. Dwarves have one of these, but it's a very large one; 50% larger, in fact, than the default size, allowing them to constantly drink alcoholic beverages and live happy, healthy lives. A dwarf can lose their liver and still drink quite copiously with no ill effects, so dwarves' ability to resist alcohol poisoning may be based on sheer willpower rather than any biological advantage.
 +
 
 +
====Pancreas====
 +
Pancreases would be used to regulate digestion and blood sugars, but dwarven diabetes does not exist, therefore their presence is entirely decorative. It can be damaged, but this is unlikely compared to the stomach, liver, lungs and heart due to its small size.
 +
 
 +
====Spleen====
 +
Spleens would be used to filter the blood like the kidneys, but it is entirely decorative, like the pancreas.
  
 
==Lower Body==
 
==Lower Body==
  
*Legs
+
===Structure===
:*Upper Legs
+
 
:*Lower Legs
+
====Lower Torso====
:*Feet
+
The lower torso contains non-critical organs that are not immediately important to continued survival. It connects the upper torso and the legs.
::*Toes
+
 
:::*[[Nail]]s
+
====Legs====
::::These will grow and become unkempt if not taken care of. This is done automatically by dwarves.
+
Legs are used for standing, walking, running, and jumping. When missing one or even two, dwarves can use crutches to walk, and may even become skilled enough to return to their standard walking speed; however, dwarves who have neurological damage to one or both legs will not use crutches, despite the obvious need.
 +
 
 +
*Upper Leg
 +
**The upper leg connects the lower torso and lower leg.
 +
 
 +
*Lower Leg
 +
**The lower leg connects the upper leg and foot.
 +
 
 +
*Foot
 +
**Feet are used to maintain a stance, and are required for walking. Loss of just one foot may impair a dwarf's mobility severely, especially without a crutch.
 +
 
 +
===Organs===
 +
 
 +
====Guts====
 +
Guts are considered to be one cohesive unit by the game, and are simulated as such; they represent the small and large intestinal tracts that fill the abdominal cavity. They are considered to be 'under pressure', and thus may be ejected if the lower torso is opened by an attack. Guts being ejected usually results in death.
 +
 
 +
====Kidneys====
 +
Kidneys would be important in cleaning the blood and creating urine, but the game treats them decoratively. The kidneys are not life-critical, and one or both can be disabled or removed without much incident.
 +
 
 +
==Limb Components==
 +
Limbs and other components of the body are layered in material that helps protect the vital organs and nervous connections that keep the body functioning.
 +
 
 +
===Skin===
 +
[[Skin]] is a protective layer that surrounds most external body parts. It's the first line of defense from infection and disease, and protects dwarves from contaminants such as blood or vomit. Dwarves with healthy skin will usually wash contaminants off of their skin with water, and will use soap if it is available.
 +
 
 +
===Fat===
 +
Subcutaneous [[fat]] is held under the skin, where it forms an additional layer of protection against blunt-force and slashing injuries. As Dwarf Fortress' layering system is somewhat abstracted, when a dwarf is set on fire, their fat usually catches alight first, destroying the skin in the process.
 +
 
 +
Some dwarves can survive burning even when all of their skin and fat is burned off, forming sinewy "supersoldiers" that do not experience pain.
  
==Skin==
+
===Muscle===
[[Skin]] is the first protective layer.
+
Muscles are critical in moving parts of the body, and are the core component in the motoric capability of a limb. Torn muscles can heal over time, but will temporarily reduce or negate the ability of a limb to function.
  
==Fat==
+
====Sinews====
[[Fat]] can be gained or lost depending on how much a creature eats and how much it works, melting if heated to a high enough temperature.  This is a layer below the skin and above the muscle.
+
Sinews connect the muscles and bones together, and include the tendons (muscle-to-bone) and ligaments (bone-to-bone). Sinew tearing will disable limbs until they heal on their own.
  
==Muscle==
+
===Nerves===
This layer is under the fat.
+
Nerves carry impulses to and from a creature's brain. Nerves are connected between body parts up to the brain; if a nerve is severed, all nerves downstream of it will be paralysed or numb. Nerves cannot heal, and once severed, will never reconnect.
  
==Arteries==
+
====Sensory====
If damaged, heavy bleeding will likely result in death. They appear to contain several gallons of blood.
+
Sensory nerves are used to experience tactile sensations in limbs, such as bumps, scratches and touches. Loss of sensory nerves can arise from skin damage and deep cuts, which can render the limb numb.
  
==Nerves==
+
====Motor====
If damaged, the body part they are connected to will become useless or less effective.
+
Motor nerves are used to actuate muscles that move limbs. If an attack severs a motor nerve, the limb and any others connected to it will be paralysed.
  
==Tendons==
+
===Arteries===
If destroyed, the limbs they connect will be useless.
+
Arteries carry blood around the body, typically under moderate pressure. If an attack opens an artery, the blood may spray and spatter walls and floors, and puts the creature in imminent danger of bleeding out if untreated.

Revision as of 14:42, 9 March 2022

This article is about the current version of DF.
Note that some content may still need to be updated.

All organs.png

This page details the constituent limbs and organs one can expect to find in a dwarf's body. This information is based on data from \raw\objects\body_default.txt and \raw\objects\creature_standard.txt.

This information is up-to-date as of Dwarf Fortress version 0.47.05.

Structure

Head

Components

Hair

Hair is common to many creatures, not the least dwarves. Dwarves can exhibit facial hair from birth, though female dwarves do not grow any by default (this mistake can be corrected changed in creature_standard.txt under the token [CASTE:FEMALE]).

Eyes

Eyes allow dwarves to use sight to view the world around them and make decisions based on visual information. Losing both eyes can render a dwarf blind, resulting in a dramatic decrease in situational awareness and crafting quality.

Nose

Noses allow dwarves to smell things that emit odors. A dwarf without a nose cannot smell, and will generate no thoughts upon encountering odors - including miasma.

Mouth

Mouths contain teeth and are used for biting. Interestingly, they are only considered in combat; even if a dwarf somehow loses their mouth, they can still eat meals and talk to other dwarves.

An interesting point to note is that both the mouth and nose can be removed and the dwarf will still be able to breathe.

Ears

Ears are used to hear noises. To a dwarf, the only noises that matter are those from tasks that modify tiles, such as mining, carving/smoothing, and woodcutting. Losing both ears renders dwarves deaf, and thus unable to hear noises.

Organs

Brain

    • Brains allow dwarves to think and are critical to survival. If the brain experiences any damage beyond bruising, it may result in loss of consciousness or even death.

Upper Body

Structure

Neck

Necks contain part of the upper spine and connect the head to the torso. They contain nervous pathways that are critical to life. Damage to the neck may result in full body paralysis, followed by death.

Throat

Throats are the forward-facing portion of the neck. They can be strangled to induce unconsciousness, and contain major arteries that can cause rapid death when opened by attacks.

Upper Torso

The upper torso contains critical organs used for sustained life functions. Damage to the chest often results in damage to these critical organs, which can quickly result in death. The upper torso connects the neck and the lower torso, and attaches both arms to the body.

Arms

Arms are used for general physical interaction with the world, including lifting and carrying objects, wrestling with combatants, and grasping items. They may also be used for mobility if the dwarf does not have the ability to stand, which may arise from loss or impairment of the legs.

  • Upper arm
    • The upper arm connects the torso and the lower arm.
  • Lower arm
    • The lower arm connects the upper arm and the hand.
  • Hand
    • Hands are used for attacks and grasping, and are typically populated with five fingers, including the thumb. A dwarf may experience difficulty grasping if one or more fingers are missing from the hand, and will completely lose their ability to grasp if all fingers are lost.

Organs

Heart

Hearts are necessary to circulate a dwarf's dwarf blood around their dwarf body. Without it, dwarves very quickly die; serious injuries such as punctures can also lead to rapid death.

Lungs

Lungs allow dwarves to breathe. Loss of one can impair a dwarf's stamina and can cause the dwarf to become Winded when doing basic tasks; loss of both causes death by suffocation.

Stomach

Stomachs would be used to digest food, but their presence is mostly decorative. A dwarf with a missing stomach can still eat. Strikes to the stomach can cause nausea and vomiting.

Liver

Livers are used to determine how well a given creature can hold its liquor. Dwarves have one of these, but it's a very large one; 50% larger, in fact, than the default size, allowing them to constantly drink alcoholic beverages and live happy, healthy lives. A dwarf can lose their liver and still drink quite copiously with no ill effects, so dwarves' ability to resist alcohol poisoning may be based on sheer willpower rather than any biological advantage.

Pancreas

Pancreases would be used to regulate digestion and blood sugars, but dwarven diabetes does not exist, therefore their presence is entirely decorative. It can be damaged, but this is unlikely compared to the stomach, liver, lungs and heart due to its small size.

Spleen

Spleens would be used to filter the blood like the kidneys, but it is entirely decorative, like the pancreas.

Lower Body

Structure

Lower Torso

The lower torso contains non-critical organs that are not immediately important to continued survival. It connects the upper torso and the legs.

Legs

Legs are used for standing, walking, running, and jumping. When missing one or even two, dwarves can use crutches to walk, and may even become skilled enough to return to their standard walking speed; however, dwarves who have neurological damage to one or both legs will not use crutches, despite the obvious need.

  • Upper Leg
    • The upper leg connects the lower torso and lower leg.
  • Lower Leg
    • The lower leg connects the upper leg and foot.
  • Foot
    • Feet are used to maintain a stance, and are required for walking. Loss of just one foot may impair a dwarf's mobility severely, especially without a crutch.

Organs

Guts

Guts are considered to be one cohesive unit by the game, and are simulated as such; they represent the small and large intestinal tracts that fill the abdominal cavity. They are considered to be 'under pressure', and thus may be ejected if the lower torso is opened by an attack. Guts being ejected usually results in death.

Kidneys

Kidneys would be important in cleaning the blood and creating urine, but the game treats them decoratively. The kidneys are not life-critical, and one or both can be disabled or removed without much incident.

Limb Components

Limbs and other components of the body are layered in material that helps protect the vital organs and nervous connections that keep the body functioning.

Skin

Skin is a protective layer that surrounds most external body parts. It's the first line of defense from infection and disease, and protects dwarves from contaminants such as blood or vomit. Dwarves with healthy skin will usually wash contaminants off of their skin with water, and will use soap if it is available.

Fat

Subcutaneous fat is held under the skin, where it forms an additional layer of protection against blunt-force and slashing injuries. As Dwarf Fortress' layering system is somewhat abstracted, when a dwarf is set on fire, their fat usually catches alight first, destroying the skin in the process.

Some dwarves can survive burning even when all of their skin and fat is burned off, forming sinewy "supersoldiers" that do not experience pain.

Muscle

Muscles are critical in moving parts of the body, and are the core component in the motoric capability of a limb. Torn muscles can heal over time, but will temporarily reduce or negate the ability of a limb to function.

Sinews

Sinews connect the muscles and bones together, and include the tendons (muscle-to-bone) and ligaments (bone-to-bone). Sinew tearing will disable limbs until they heal on their own.

Nerves

Nerves carry impulses to and from a creature's brain. Nerves are connected between body parts up to the brain; if a nerve is severed, all nerves downstream of it will be paralysed or numb. Nerves cannot heal, and once severed, will never reconnect.

Sensory

Sensory nerves are used to experience tactile sensations in limbs, such as bumps, scratches and touches. Loss of sensory nerves can arise from skin damage and deep cuts, which can render the limb numb.

Motor

Motor nerves are used to actuate muscles that move limbs. If an attack severs a motor nerve, the limb and any others connected to it will be paralysed.

Arteries

Arteries carry blood around the body, typically under moderate pressure. If an attack opens an artery, the blood may spray and spatter walls and floors, and puts the creature in imminent danger of bleeding out if untreated.