peritoneal

American  

[per-i-tuhn-ee-uhl] / ˌpɛr ɪ tənˈi əl /

adjective

Anatomy.

1. relating to, by means of, or enclosed by the peritoneum, the membrane lining the abdominal cavity.

   Perforation of the ulcer may occur, with escape of stomach contents into the peritoneal cavity.

   In peritoneal dialysis, the lining of the abdominal cavity acts like the external filter to cleanse the blood.

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Other Word Forms

• preperitoneal
  adjective
• subperitoneal
  adjective
• transperitoneal
  adjective
• peritoneally
  adverb
• transperitoneally
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of peritoneal

peritone(um) ( def. ) + -al ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Doctors determined she was suffering from kidney failure and needed ongoing treatment including chemotherapy and peritoneal dialysis.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 6, 2026

Amrit undergoes nine hours of peritoneal dialysis each night, a method of blood purification used when kidneys fail.

From BBC • Jul. 20, 2025

As a BRCA1 previvor, my risk for breast, ovarian, pancreatic, peritoneal, fallopian tube and endometrial cancer is higher than normal.

From Salon • Oct. 17, 2024

Deep endometriosis, extending to any depth beneath the peritoneal surface, is the most severe form of endometriosis.

From Science Daily • Apr. 9, 2024

Perforation of a gastric ulcer having taken place, the septic germs, which were harmless whilst in the stomach, escape with the rest of the contents of the stomach into the general peritoneal cavity.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 5 "Gassendi, Pierre" to "Geocentric" by Various