peritoneum

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The serous membrane that lines the walls of the abdominal cavity and folds inward to enclose the viscera.

[Middle English, from Late Latin peritonaeum, from Greek peritonaion, from peritonaios, stretched across, from peritonos, stretched around : peri-, peri- + teinein, to stretch.]

The membranous lining of the coelomic, especially the abdominal, cavity, which surrounds most of the organs. It is composed mainly of flattened epithelial cells that produce a small amount of watery, or serous, fluid. In the embryo the coelomic wall is lined by this membrane, which continues over the developing viscera so that they are suspended and supported by the reflected peritoneum, principally from the dorsal body wall, but also from the ventral body wall in the region of the liver. See also Epithelium; Fetal membrane.

A membrane which lines the inside of the abdomen and covers its contents. The peritoneal ‘cavity’ is an enclosed sac between the lining and the contents, and normally contains only sufficient fluid to lubricate the movement of the loops of the intestines, allowing them to slide freely over each other and against the inside of the abdominal wall. Disease of the stomach, intestines, or appendix which causes leakage or rupture (perforation) can result in dissemination of infected material throughout the cavity, causing peritonitis. Accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity (ascites) occurs along with generalized oedema in conditions such as heart failure or kidney failure.

— Stuart Judge

A membrane lining the interior of the abdominal cavity and surrounding its organs.

The serous membrane lining the walls of the abdominal and pelvic cavities (parietal peritoneum) and investing contained viscera (visceral peritoneum), the two layers enclosing a potential space, the peritoneal cavity. The diseases which are important in the peritoneum of animals are peritonitis, including a special group of rectal tear, retroperitoneal abscess, lipomatosis, neoplasia, ascites and peritoneal effusion.

Dansk (Danish)
n. - bughinde

Nederlands (Dutch)
buikvlies

Français (French)
n. - péritoine

Deutsch (German)
n. - Bauchfell

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (ανατ.) περιτόναιο

Italiano (Italian)
peritoneo

Português (Portuguese)
n. - peritônio (m) (Anat.)

Русский (Russian)
брюшина

Español (Spanish)
n. - peritoneo

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - bukhinna

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
腹膜

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 腹膜

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 복막

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 腹膜

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) بريتون, صفاق, غشاء يبطن التجويف المعدي‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮צפק (קרום רירי העוטף את חלל הבטן)‬

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