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Synonyms

duodenum

American  
[doo-uh-dee-nuhm, dyoo-, doo-od-n-uhm, dyoo-] / ˌdu əˈdi nəm, ˌdyu-, duˈɒd n əm, dyu- /

noun

Anatomy, Zoology.

plural

duodena, duodenums

  1. the first portion of the small intestine, from the stomach to the jejunum.

duodenum British  
/ ˌdjuːəʊˈdiːnəm /

noun

  1. the first part of the small intestine, between the stomach and the jejunum

"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
duodenum Scientific  
/ do̅o̅′ə-dē′nəm,do̅o̅-ŏd′n-əm /

plural

duodena

  1. The beginning part of the small intestine, starting at the lower end of the stomach and extending to the jejunum.

duodenum Cultural  

  1. The first part of the small intestine, located just below the stomach. (See digestive system.)

Other Word Forms

  • duodenal adjective

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.

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

Once in the duodenum, pancreatic juices release B12 from R-protein and hand it to intrinsic factor.

From Salon • Nov. 30, 2022

If bile is ejected in vomiting, it merely shows, not only that the action of the stomach is inverted, but also that of the duodenum.

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.