Mesentery

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Mesentery \Mes"en*ter*y\ (?; 277), n. [Gr. mesente`rion, me`sos
     + 'e`nteron intestine: cf. F. m['e]sent[`e]re.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. (Anat.) The membranes, or one of the membranes (consisting
        of a fold of the peritoneum and inclosed tissues), which
        connect the intestines and their appendages with the


        dorsal wall of the abdominal cavity. The mesentery proper
        is connected with the jejunum and ilium, the other
        mesenteries being called mesocaecum, mesocolon,
        mesorectum, etc.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Zool.) One of the vertical muscular radiating partitions
        which divide the body cavity of Anthozoa into chambers.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  mesentery
       n : a double layer of peritoneum that attaches to the back wall
           of the abdominal cavity and supports the small intestines