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.

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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

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

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

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

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

These lacteal vessels, as was before observed, pass through the mesentery, and their contents seem to undergo some important change in the mesenteric glands.

From Popular Lectures on Zoonomia Or The Laws of Animal Life, in Health and Disease by Garnett, Thomas

Mesenterica is from two Greek words meaning the mesentery.

From The Mushroom, Edible and Otherwise Its Habitat and its Time of Growth by Hard, Miron Elisha