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mesentery

[mes-uh n-ter-ee, mez-]
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noun, plural mes·en·ter·ies. Anatomy.
  1. the membrane, consisting of a double layer of peritoneum, that invests the intestines, attaching them to the posterior wall of the abdomen, maintaining them in position in the abdominal cavity, and supplying them with blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatics, especially the part of this membrane investing the jejunum and ileum.
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Origin of mesentery

1375–1425; late Middle English < New Latin mesenterium < Greek mesentérion (equivalent to mes- mes- + entérion, neuter of entérios of the bowel); see enteron
Related formsmes·en·ter·ic, adjectivein·ter·mes·en·ter·ic, adjectivepost·mes·en·ter·ic, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for mesenteric

Historical Examples

  • The mesenteric vessels were dilated, but the intestines were not dilated.

    Barium, A Cause of the Loco-Weed Disease

    Albert Cornelius Crawford

  • This bacillus was obtained from the mesenteric gland of a boy.

    Special Report on Diseases of Cattle

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

  • The mesenteric artery differs in some respects from the radial, but in the main, the changes brought about by age are the same.

    Arteriosclerosis and Hypertension:

    Louis Marshall Warfield

  • Very frequently they die at that age of mesenteric disorders; and very few indeed become permanently civilized in their habits.

    The Bushman

    Edward Wilson Landor

  • The mesenteric glands show signs of irritation or of absorption of specific products in hypermic pigmentation and hyperplasia.

British Dictionary definitions for mesenteric

mesentery

noun plural -teries
  1. the double layer of peritoneum that is attached to the back wall of the abdominal cavity and supports most of the small intestine
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Derived Formsmesenteric, adjective

Word Origin

C16: from New Latin mesenterium; see meso- + enteron
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

Word Origin and History for mesenteric

mesentery

n.

fold of the peritoneum, early 15c., from medical Latin mesenterium "middle of the intestine," from medical Greek mesenterion, from mesos "middle" (see medial (adj.)) + enteron "intestine" (see enteric). Related: Mesenteric.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
mesenteric in Medicine

mesentery

(mĕz′ən-tĕr′ē)
n.
  1. A double layer of peritoneum attached to the abdominal wall and enclosing in its fold certain organs of the abdominal viscera.
  2. A fold of the peritoneum that connects the intestines to the dorsal abdominal wall, especially such a fold that envelops the jejunum and ileum.
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Related formsmes′en•ter′ic adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.