per·i·to·ne·um also per·i·to·nae·um (p r  -tn-   m)n. pl. per·i·to·ne·a also per·i·to·nae·a (-tn- ) The serous membrane that lines the walls of the abdominal cavity and folds inward to enclose the viscera. [Middle English, from Late Latin peritonaeum, from Greek peritonaion, from peritonaios, stretched across, from peritonos, stretched around : peri-, peri- + teinein, to stretch; see ten- in Indo-European roots.] per i·to·neal adj.per i·to·neal·ly adv. |
peritoneum [ˌpɛrɪtəˈniːəm]
n pl -nea [-ˈniːə], -neums
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Anatomy) a thin translucent serous sac that lines the walls of the abdominal cavity and covers most of the viscera
[via Late Latin from Greek peritonaion, from peritonos stretched around, from peri- + tenein to stretch]
peritoneal adj
| peritoneum (pr-tn-m) Plural peritonea The membrane that lines the walls of the abdomen and the pelvis (called the parietal peritoneum) and encloses the abdominal and pelvic organs (called the visceral peritoneum.) The space between the two, the peritoneal cavity, fills with inflammatory cells and pus when the peritoneum becomes infected. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  peritoneum - a transparent membrane that lines the abdominal cavity in mammals and covers most of the visceramesentery - a double layer of peritoneum that attaches to the back wall of the abdominal cavity and supports the small intestines omentum - a fold of peritoneum supporting the viscera serosa, serous membrane - a thin membrane lining the closed cavities of the body; has two layers with a space between that is filled with serous fluid |
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