definitions

cecum

or cae·cum

[ see-kuh m ]
/ ˈsi kəm /
|

noun, plural ce·ca [see-kuh] /ˈsi kə/. Anatomy, Zoology.

a cul-de-sac, especially that in which the large intestine begins.

Nearby words

cecosigmoidostomy, cecostomy, cecotomy, cecropia moth, cecrops, cecum, ced, cedant arma togae, cedar, cedar apple, cedar chest

Origin of cecum

1715–25; short for Latin intestinum caecum blind gut

Related forms

ce·cal, adjectivece·cal·ly, adverbsub·ce·cal, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for cecum

  • These two occur in the small intestine; a form intermediate in size may also be found in the cecum and colon.

    Special Report on Diseases of the Horse|United States Department of Agriculture

  • The latter is somewhat smaller and is found in the cecum and large intestine.

    Special Report on Diseases of Cattle|U.S. Department of Agriculture

  • It lives in the large intestine, especially the cecum, with its slender extremity embedded in the mucous membrane.

    A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd

  • One of them may occupy the cecum, another the transverse colon, and possibly a third the sigmoid flexure.

    Intestinal Ills|Alcinous Burton Jamison

British Dictionary definitions for cecum

cecum

/ (ˈsiːkəm) /

noun plural -ca (-kə)

US a variant spelling of caecum

Derived Forms

cecal, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for cecum

cecum

n. pl. ce•ca (-kə)

The large blind pouch forming the beginning of the large intestine.blind gut
A saclike cavity with only one opening.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Science definitions for cecum

cecum

[ sē′kəm ]

Plural ceca

A large pouch forming the beginning of the large intestine. The appendix and the ileum of the small intestine both connect to the cecum.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.