mesentery

American  

[mes-uhn-ter-ee, mez-] / ˈmɛs ənˌtɛr i, ˈmɛz- /

noun

Anatomy.

plural

mesenteries

1. an organ that, as a double fold of peritoneum, loops around the pancreas and the intestines, holding them securely to the abdominal wall.

---

mesentery British  

/ ˈmɛsəntərɪ, ˈmɛz- /

noun

1. the double layer of peritoneum that is attached to the back wall of the abdominal cavity and supports most of the small intestine

---

Other Word Forms

• intermesenteric adjective
• mesenteric adjective
• postmesenteric adjective

Etymology

Origin of mesentery

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English , from New Latin mesenterium, from Greek mesentérion (equivalent to mes- mes- + énteron enteron + Greek -ion noun suffix); see -ium ( def. )

Example Sentences

Each mesentery consists of one ectodermal and one endodermal cell layer with the mesoglea sandwiched in between.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

The mesoappendix, the mesentery of the appendix, tethers it to the mesentery of the ileum.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

The jejunum and ileum are tethered to the posterior abdominal wall by the mesentery.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

This latter is seen about the region of the pancreas and in the folds of the mesentery.

From Special Report on Diseases of Cattle by United States. Bureau of Animal Industry

The enormous number of such vessels in the mesentery and intestines explains the ability of the splanchnic area to accommodate the greater part of the blood in the body.

From Arteriosclerosis and Hypertension: with Chapters on Blood Pressure, 3rd Edition. by Warfield, Louis Marshall