General Anatomy · Digestive System · Medium

Peritoneum

Meaning: The thin, smooth membrane lining the abdominal cavity and covering most of the abdominal organs.

In practice: Blood irritating the peritoneum can cause severe abdominal pain and guarding on examination.

Word parts

Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.

Two questions on related general anatomy words.

Which word means: A short stem-like part, such as the bony bridge linking a vertebral body to its arch.

Which word means: The movable fold of skin that covers and protects the front of the eye.

One medical word a day, then a quick three-question quiz. Free on iPhone, or play in your browser on Android and computer.