peritoneum

(per′ə tə nē′əm)

the transparent serous membrane lining the abdominal cavity and reflected inward at various places to cover the visceral organs

Origin: LL < Gr peritonaion < peri-, around + teinein, to stretch: see thin

Related Forms:

See peritoneum in American Heritage Dictionary 4

also per·i·to·nae·um

noun pl. per·i·to·ne·a also per·i·to·nae·a (-tn-ēˈə)

The serous membrane that lines the walls of the abdominal cavity and folds inward to enclose the viscera.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Late Latin peritonaeum

Origin: , from Greek peritonaion

Origin: , from peritonaios, stretched across

Origin: , from peritonos, stretched around

Origin: : peri-, peri-

Origin: + teinein, to stretch; see ten- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms:

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