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Glite Dictionary
mesentery

mesentery

1 9.9
A fold of tissue that holds the small intestine to the back of the belly
  • noun
  • /ˈmɛsənˌtɛri/
  • Specialized
translation icon : mesenterio
  • Inflammation of the mesentery can lead to various digestive issues that require medical attention.

Examples

  • Mesentery damage after operation.

    Gridlock (2017)

  • "I'll finish up," I replied abstractedly as I resumed measuring a large tear of the mesentery.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • What couldn't be stopped was the ooze from the man's belly, where the ripping tushes had laid open skin, muscles, mesentery, and gut alike.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • The surgeon carefully examined the mesentery to ensure there was no damage after the procedure.

  • During the anatomy class, we learned that the mesentery supports the small intestines and connects them to the abdominal wall.

Surface Forms

mesentery singular
mesenteries plural

Morphology

mesentery = meso + enter + y

A technical anatomical term built from Greek combining forms (meso- + enter-) and a nominal suffix; the structure and meaning are not readily guessable for an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Mesentery comes from Greek parts meso- 'middle' and enteron 'intestine', so it literally means 'middle intestine'. That's why a mesentery is the fold of tissue that holds and supports the small intestine in the middle of the belly.