abdominal cavity

noun

plural abdominal cavities

: the cavity of the abdomen that is lined by peritoneum, is bounded above by the diaphragm, anteriorly by a wall of muscle and tissue, and posteriorly by the spinal column, is continuous below with the pelvic cavity, and contains many of the visceral organs and especially those involved in digestion (such as the stomach, liver, pancreas, kidneys, and intestines) : abdomen sense 1b

Most hernias can be pushed back into the abdominal cavity.

—Fred Cicetti

He makes a half-inch incision in the navel and inserts a laparoscope, a flexible optical device for inspecting the abdominal cavity.

—Matt Clark

Examples of abdominal cavity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But if the appendix bursts, any tumor cells can spread throughout the abdominal cavity, added Andreana Holowatyj, PhD, an assistant professor of hematology and oncology at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center who led the research team. —Kristen Fischer, Health, 13 June 2025

The cancer cells spread beyond the abdominal cavity to other organs — which is what had happened in Hind’s case. —Toria Sheffield, People.com, 25 May 2025

The catheter connects to a valve that regulates CSF flow and tubing that diverts the fluid to the abdominal cavity, where it is safely absorbed. —Richard Menger Md Mpa, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025

The solution had been inserted into the mummy's abdominal cavity. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2025

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), the condition occurs when the appendix develops a hole, allowing bacteria to spill into the abdominal cavity. —Dave Quinn, People.com, 15 Apr. 2025

The machine is connected to a person's blood vessels (hemodialysis) or to their abdominal cavity (peritoneal dialysis) at regular intervals to carry out the filtering function of the kidneys.10 Kidney transplants are another treatment option for end-stage renal disease. —Anju Goel, Verywell Health, 1 Apr. 2025

Your abdominal cavity has its own natural pressure system that interacts with the abdominal wall and visceral organs. —Dana Solomon, Outside Online, 16 Mar. 2025

Examiners will look to test blood and urine, if available, but also could turn to an oily fluid that typically accumulates in lung and abdominal cavities, and samples of muscle and brain, to help determine the causes of death. —Susan Montoya Bryan, arkansasonline.com, 2 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1745, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for abdominal cavity

• concavity
• depravity
• gravity
• intracavity
• microgravity
• supergravity

Medical Definition

abdominal cavity

noun

: the cavity of the abdomen (see abdomen sense 1a) that is lined by peritoneum, is bounded above by the diaphragm, anteriorly by a wall of muscle and tissue, and posteriorly by the spinal column, is continuous below with the pelvic cavity, and contains many of the visceral organs and especially those involved in digestion (such as the stomach, liver, pancreas, kidneys, and intestines) : abdomen sense 1b