peritoneum (redirected from peritoneums)

per·i·to·ne·um also per·i·to·nae·um  (pr-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.

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[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.]

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peri·to·neal adj.

peri·to·neal·ly adv.

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peritoneum [per-rit-toe-nee-um, -nee-a]

Noun

pl -nea -neums a serous sac that lines the walls of the abdominal cavity and covers the abdominal organs [Greek peritonos stretched around]

peritoneal adj

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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.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

peritoneum - a transparent membrane that lines the abdominal cavity in mammals and covers most of the viscera mesentery - 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