peritoneum
nounUK /ˌper.ɪ.təˈniː.əm/
US /ˌper.ə.t̬ənˈiː.əm/
The thin skin inside your belly that covers your organs and keeps them safe.
The doctor explained that the peritoneum protects the stomach and intestines.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The membrane that lines the inside of the abdominal cavity.
Fluid can build up between the peritoneum and the abdominal wall.
3. The serous sac that encloses the abdominal organs in animals.
In frogs, the peritoneum wraps around the digestive organs.
4. A protective tissue layer studied in anatomy and surgery.
Surgeons must be careful not to damage the peritoneum during an operation.