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Glite Dictionary
coeliac plexus

coeliac plexus

9.3
A group of nerves in the upper belly behind the stomach that send signals to nearby organs
  • noun
  • /ˈsiːliæk ˈplɛksəs/
  • UK
translation icon : plexo celíaco
  • During the surgery, the doctor carefully avoided damaging the coeliac plexus.

Examples

  • The coeliac plexus is crucial for abdominal organ function.

  • Pain in the upper abdomen can sometimes be traced back to the coeliac plexus.

  • A block of the coeliac plexus is often performed to relieve certain types of chronic abdominal pain.

  • Surgeons often target the coeliac plexus during procedures.

  • The coeliac plexus is crucial for transmitting sensory information from the abdominal organs.

  • Surgeons carefully navigate around the coeliac plexus during abdominal procedures to avoid nerve damage.

  • Injuries to the coeliac plexus can lead to severe abdominal pain and digestive issues.

Synonyms

solar plexus
vscoeliac plexus
  • Specialized
3 6.2

A group of nerves in the belly behind the stomach that helps control digestion and breathing

is defined by supplying nerves to abdominal organs rather than broad autonomic role
plexus celiacus
vscoeliac plexus
  • Specialized
9.0

A large group of nerves behind the stomach that sends messages to the organs in the belly

is the same network referenced without listing alternate names
abdominal nerve plexus
vscoeliac plexus
  • Specialized
7.7

A group of nerves behind the stomach that controls organs in the belly

is focused on supplying nerves to abdominal organs rather than only location

Surface Forms

coeliac plexus singular
coeliacs plexus plural

Morphology

celiac + plexus

The phrase is compositionally transparent: 'celiac' means relating to the abdomen and 'plexus' means a network of nerves/vessels, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer it denotes a network of abdominal nerves. Anatomical naming is systematic (and often similar across languages), so the general meaning is predictable even if specific clinical details (e.g., exact location or sympathetic nature) require specialist knowledge.

Etymology

The medical name coeliac plexus comes from Greek words that show where and what it is: coeliac refers to the 'belly' and plexus means a braided 'network' of nerves. Picture a braid of nerve threads behind the stomach controlling many organs, and that image explains why the term names the large nerve network in the abdomen.