Abdomen
Abdomen: The belly, that part of the body that contains all of the structures between the chest and the pelvis. The abdomen is separated anatomically from the chest by the diaphragm, the powerful muscle spanning the body cavity below the lungs.
The abdomen includes a host of organs including the stomach, small intestine, colon, rectum, liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, appendix, gallbladder, and bladder.
The word “abdomen” has a curious story behind it. It comes from the Latin “abdodere”, to hide. The idea was that whatever was eaten was hidden in the abdomen.
Read Also:
- Ab-
Ab-: Prefix indicating from, away from, or off, as in abduction (movement of a limb away from the midline of the body) and abnormal (away from normal).
- Abdomen, acute
Abdomen, acute: Medical shorthand for the acute onset of abdominal pain. A potential medical emergency, an acute abdomen may reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen, such as appendicitis (inflamed appendix), cholecystitis (inflamed gallbladder), a perforated ulcer in the intestine, or a ruptured spleen.
- Abatement
Abatement: A diminution, decrease or easing. In medicine there may be abatement of pain or any other symptom or sign. In the environment there may abatement in the degree of pollution. See also: Abate.
- Abdominal aneurysm
Abdominal aneurysm: An aneurysm situated within the abdomen (belly). An aneurysm is a localized widening (dilatation) of an artery, vein, or the heart. At the area of an aneurysm, there is typically a bulge and the wall is weakened and may rupture. The word “aneurysm” comes from the Greek “aneurysma” meaning “a widening.” An aneurysm […]
- Appendix
Appendix: A small outpouching from the beginning of the large intestine.