caecum

[see-kuhm]

noun

plural

caeca 

1. cecum.

caecum

/ ˈsiːkəm /

noun

1. anatomy any structure or part that ends in a blind sac or pouch, esp the pouch that marks the beginning of the large intestine

Other Word Forms

• caecal adjective
• caecally adverb
• postcaecal adjective
• subcaecal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of caecum¹

C18: short for Latin intestinum caecum blind intestine, translation of Greek tuphlon enteron

Example Sentences

Doctors said the pressure of the magnets had caused necrosis -- tissue death -- in four areas of the boy's small bowel and caecum, which is part of the large intestine.

Read more on Barron's

The term caecal contents refers to the material found inside the caecum, a pouch located at the beginning of the large intestine.

Read more on Science Daily

Microbial energy harvest in obesity has been investigated in conventional genetically obese ob/ mice, which have increased amounts of SCFAs in their caecum and reduced energy content in their faeces compared with their lean littermates.

Read more on Nature

This bacterium populates the ileum and caecum and has long been known to be a potent activator of intestinal immune responses.

Read more on Nature

Bacteriotherapy involves introducing a faecal sample from a healthy donor as a homogenate by injection into the caecum using a colonoscope.

Read more on Nature