mesentery

noun

mes·​en·​tery ˈme-zᵊn-ˌter-ē 

-sᵊn-

plural mesenteries

1

a

: one or more vertebrate membranes that consist of a double fold of the peritoneum and invest the intestines and their appendages and connect them with the dorsal wall of the abdominal cavity

b

: a fold of membrane comparable to a mesentery and supporting a viscus (such as the heart) that is not a part of the digestive tract

2

: a support or partition in an invertebrate like the vertebrate mesentery

mesenteric

ˌme-zᵊn-ˈter-ik 

-sᵊn-

adjective

Examples of mesentery in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The mesentery ensures that the intestines do not just fall in a random heap on the floor of the abdomen. —Monique Brouillette, Popular Mechanics, 19 Jan. 2023

In 2012, Coffey’s team determined the mesentery was indeed a single, connected structure. —Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 3 Jan. 2017

As became apparent during the whole mesentery craze, there’s no real definition for what an organ actually is. —Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 28 Mar. 2018

Spiegel says an extra stretchy mesentery could disrupt the structure of the gut. —Monique Brouillette, Popular Mechanics, 19 Jan. 2023

Ditto for the mesentery and the latest assemblage of cells to bear the dubious honorific. —Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 28 Mar. 2018

That’s because of its proximity to the mesentery — a layer of tissue that affixes the intestines to the abdominal wall. —Lauren Caruba, San Antonio Express-News, 30 Apr. 2021

Just last year, there was another similar structural substance found to surround the digestive tract known as the mesentery. —Claire Maldarelli, Popular Science, 2 Apr. 2018

But while performing an increasing number of colorectal surgeries, Coffey had begun to suspect that the mesentery was one continuous organ. —Claudia Kalb, National Geographic, 12 June 2019

Word History

Etymology

Middle English mesenterie, from Medieval Latin mesenterion, from Greek, from mes- + enteron intestine — more at inter-

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

mesentery

noun

mes·​en·​tery ˈmez-ᵊn-ˌter-ē 

ˈmes-

plural mesenteries

: membranous tissue or one of the membranes that enclose the organs (as the intestines) making up the guts and connect them to the wall of the abdominal cavity

Medical Definition

mesentery

noun

mes·​en·​tery ˈmez-ᵊn-ˌter-ē  ˈmes- 

plural mesenteries

1

: one or more vertebrate membranes that consist of a double fold of the peritoneum and invest the intestines and their appendages and connect them with the dorsal wall of the abdominal cavity

specifically : such membranes connected with the jejunum and ileum in humans

2

: a fold of membrane comparable to a mesentery and supporting a viscus (as the heart) that is not a part of the digestive tract