cecum

American  

[see-kuhm] / ˈsi kəm /

Or caecum

noun

Anatomy, Zoology.

• ceca
  plural

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

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cecum British  

/ ˈsiːkəm /

noun

1. a variant spelling of caecum

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cecum Scientific  

/ sē′kəm /

• ceca
  plural

1. A large pouch forming the beginning of the large intestine. The appendix and the ileum of the small intestine both connect to the cecum.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• cecal
  adjective
• subcecal
  adjective
• cecally
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• ceca
  plural

Etymology

Origin of cecum

1715–25; short for Latin intestinum caecum blind gut

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cecum

Mice possess a cecum -- a pouch in their digestive system that slows the flow of intestinal contents and helps digest carbohydrates, which may contribute to being able to better tolerate sorbitol.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 15, 2024

The cecum receives semi-solid waste from small intestine.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

The main regions of the large intestine are the cecum, the colon, and the rectum.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

It was during this examination that the larger polyp was discovered in the cecum, at the juncture of the large and small intestines.

From Time Magazine Archive

It will be well to remember that diseases of the cecum or appendix or both never cause complete obstruction, except in exceedingly rare cases where adhesive bands are formed, completing the cut-off.

From Appendicitis by John Henry Tilden