Peritoneum

2 definitions found

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

  Peritoneum \Per`i*to*ne"um\, n. [L. peritoneum, peritonaeum, Gr.
     ?, ?, fr. ? to stretch all around or over; peri` around + ?
     to stretch.] (Anat.)
     The smooth serous membrane which lines the cavity of the
     abdomen, or the whole body cavity when there is no diaphragm,
     and, turning back, surrounds the viscera, forming a closed,


     or nearly closed, sac. [Written also {periton[ae]um}.]
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  peritoneum
       n : a transparent membrane that lines the abdominal cavity in
           mammals and covers most of the viscera
       [also: {peritonea} (pl)]