peritoneum
noun
peri·to·ne·um
ˌper-ə-tə-ˈnē-əm 
plural peritoneums
ˌper-ə-tə-ˈnē-əmz
or peritonea
ˌper-ə-tə-ˈnē-ə
or peritonea
ˌper-ə-tə-ˈnē-ə
: the smooth transparent serous membrane that lines the cavity of the abdomen of a mammal and is folded inward over the abdominal and pelvic viscera
Examples of peritoneum in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Peritoneal dialysis uses the peritoneum, the lining of the abdomen, which contains the organs, to mimic a kidney by using large amounts of fluid inside the peritoneum to absorb wastes without needing to remove the blood from the body.
—
Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 9 Feb. 2022
What’s under it is the same as what’s under the skin of the rest of your abdomen: your abdominal muscles, to which the navel is attached by a short umbilical stalk, and the peritoneum, the membrane that lines the abdominal cavity.
—Sarah Leupen, The Conversation, 5 Apr. 2023
What else – my peritoneum, that’s gone.
—The Indianapolis Star, 14 Mar. 2023
The hematoma was half the size of a grapefruit and was contained only by a thin, fragile layer of tissue called the peritoneum.
—W Roy Smythe, Discover Magazine, 7 Apr. 2014
Using the peritoneum in gender confirmation surgery was popularized by Dr. Lee Zhao at New York University in recent years, and Dr. Kamol is one of the few surgeons in the world performing PPT.
—Mailee Osten-Tan, Longreads, 8 June 2022
There are potential complications of peritoneal dialysis, including infection of the peritoneum.
—Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 9 Feb. 2022
This then would result in the inflammation of your peritoneum, the lining of the insides of your abdomen, called peritonitis, which can be a life-threatening condition and is a surgical emergency.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 31 Jan. 2022
Think of the parietal peritoneum as a membrane corset that wraps around the center of your body and abdomen, says Gregg.
—Kelly O'Mara, Outside Online, 8 May 2020
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Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 9 Feb. 2022
What’s under it is the same as what’s under the skin of the rest of your abdomen: your abdominal muscles, to which the navel is attached by a short umbilical stalk, and the peritoneum, the membrane that lines the abdominal cavity.
—Sarah Leupen, The Conversation, 5 Apr. 2023
What else – my peritoneum, that’s gone.
—The Indianapolis Star, 14 Mar. 2023
The hematoma was half the size of a grapefruit and was contained only by a thin, fragile layer of tissue called the peritoneum.
—W Roy Smythe, Discover Magazine, 7 Apr. 2014
Using the peritoneum in gender confirmation surgery was popularized by Dr. Lee Zhao at New York University in recent years, and Dr. Kamol is one of the few surgeons in the world performing PPT.
—Mailee Osten-Tan, Longreads, 8 June 2022
There are potential complications of peritoneal dialysis, including infection of the peritoneum.
—Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 9 Feb. 2022
This then would result in the inflammation of your peritoneum, the lining of the insides of your abdomen, called peritonitis, which can be a life-threatening condition and is a surgical emergency.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 31 Jan. 2022
Think of the parietal peritoneum as a membrane corset that wraps around the center of your body and abdomen, says Gregg.
—Kelly O'Mara, Outside Online, 8 May 2020
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'peritoneum.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Peritoneum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peritoneum. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.
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Kids Definition
peritoneum
noun
peri·to·ne·um
ˌper-ət-ᵊn-ˈē-əm
plural peritoneums or peritonea
-ˈnē-ə
: the smooth transparent membrane that lines the cavity of the abdomen and encloses the abdominal and pelvic organs
Medical Definition
peritoneum
noun
peri·to·ne·um
variants
or chiefly British peritonaeum
: the smooth transparent serous membrane that lines the cavity of the abdomen of a mammal, is folded inward over the abdominal and pelvic viscera, and consists of an outer layer closely adherent to the walls of the abdomen and an inner layer that folds to invest the viscera see parietal peritoneum, visceral peritoneum compare mesentery sense 1
More from Merriam-Webster on peritoneum
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about peritoneum
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