duodenum
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of duodenum
1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin, by ellipsis from intestīnum duodēnum digitōrum intestine of twelve fingerbreadths, with original genitive plural construed as neuter singular; Latin duodēnī twelve each (here lacking distributive sense)
Vocabulary lists containing duodenum
"The Night Face Up," Vocabulary from the short story
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Nutrition and Digestion - High School
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Nutrition and Digestion - Middle School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Duodenal mucosal resurfacing is an investigational endoscopic treatment that uses controlled heat to remove damaged tissue from the inner lining of the duodenum, the first section of the small intestine just below the stomach.
From Science Daily • Apr. 23, 2026
He had a procedure which resulted in the removal of part of his pancreas, the duodenum, the gall bladder and part of his liver.
From BBC • Dec. 22, 2025
In 1994 he performed the world’s first six-organ transplant, replacing a patient’s stomach, small intestine, duodenum, pancreas, liver and kidney in a single operation.
From New York Times • Jan. 15, 2024
Calne also helped carry out the world’s first triple liver, lung and heart transplant in 1986 and in 1994 led a six-organ transplant of liver, kidney, stomach, duodenum, small intestine and pancreas.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 7, 2024
The bile and pancreatic fluid are conveyed into the duodenum, and mixed with the chyme.
From A Treatise on Anatomy, Physiology, and Hygiene (Revised Edition) by Cutter, Calvin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
