abdomen

[ ab-duh-muhn, ab-doh- ]

noun

1. Anatomy, Zoology.
   1. the part of the body of a mammal between the thorax and the pelvis; belly.
   2. the cavity of this part of the body containing the stomach, intestines, etc.
   3. (in nonmammalian vertebrates) a region of the body corresponding to, but not coincident with, this part or cavity.
2. Entomology. the posterior section of the body of an arthropod, behind the thorax or the cephalothorax.

abdomen

/ æbˈdɒmɪnəl; æbˈdəʊ-; ˈæbdəmən /

noun

1. the region of the body of a vertebrate that contains the viscera other than the heart and lungs. In mammals it is separated from the thorax by the diaphragm
2. the front or surface of this region; belly coeliac
3. (in arthropods) the posterior part of the body behind the thorax, consisting of up to ten similar segments

abdomen

/ ăb′də-mən /

1. In vertebrates, the portion of the body between the thorax and pelvis, containing the stomach, intestines, liver, and other organs. In mammals, the abdomen is separated from the thorax by the diaphragm.
2. In arthropods, the last, most posterior segment of the body.

abdomen

1. The part of the body between the thorax (chest) and pelvis that encloses the organs of the abdominal cavity ; the belly.

Derived Forms

• abˈdominally, adverb
• abdominal, adjective

Other Words From

• post·abdo·men noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of abdomen¹

1535–45; (< Middle French ) < Latin abdōmen belly

Word History and Origins

Origin of abdomen¹

C16: from Latin; origin obscure

Example Sentences

But even I have my share of patients with chronic pain of some kind, be it in the abdomen or head or back.

From The Daily Beast

The tight fit also restricts your abdomen, reducing your food intake during the day.

From The Daily Beast

The sick sister was healed after relics from John XXIII were placed on the fistula on her abdomen.

From The Daily Beast

Two bullets lodged in his abdomen and he was taken to the hospital for surgery.

From The Daily Beast

A WWII re-enactor is brought into the hospital when a homemade bazooka backfires and leaves an unexploded grenade in his abdomen.

From The Daily Beast

The body is very convex:, having the thorax as wide as the abdomen, subquadrate, with very convex sides.

From Project Gutenberg

The head and thorax are of the colour of the wings, their sides and the conical abdomen being rather lighter.

From Project Gutenberg

The Semangs of Malacca are jet-black in color, with thick lips, flat nose, and protruding abdomen.

From Project Gutenberg

Some slight injury in the abdomen, as from a blow or a kick, may precipitate an attack in predisposed individuals.

From Project Gutenberg

I found him extremely unwell, with what I conceived to be a dropsy, for his abdomen was very much swollen.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• belly
• gut
• midriff
• midsection
• tummy