Mesentery

A fold of tissue which attaches organs to the body wall. The word mesentery usually refers to the small bowel mesentery which anchors the small intestine to the back of the abdominal wall. Blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatics branch through the mesentery to supply the intestine. Other mesenteries exist to support the sigmoid colon, appendix, transverse colon, and portions of the ascending and descending colon.

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1. A double layer of peritoneum attached to the abdominal wall and enclosing in its fold a portion or all of one of the abdominal viscera, conveying to it its vessels and nerves. 2. The fan-shaped fold of peritoneum suspending the greater part of the small intestines (jejunum and ileum) and attaching it to the posterior abdominal wall at the root of the m. (radix mesenterii). SYN: mesenterium dorsale commune, mesostenium. SYN: mesenterium [TA]. [Mod. L. mesenterium, fr. G. mesenterion, fr. G. mesos, middle, + enteron, intestine]

- m. of appendix SYN: mesoappendix.

- m. of cecum SYN: mesocecum.

- m. of lung SYN: mesopneumonium.

- m. of sigmoid colon See mesocolon.

- m. of transverse colon See mesocolon.

- urogenital m. SYN: diaphragmatic ligament of the mesonephros.

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mes·en·tery 'mez-ən-.ter-ē, 'mes- n, pl -ter·ies

1) one or more vertebrate membranes that consist of a double fold of the peritoneum and invest the intestines and their appendages and connect them with the dorsal wall of the abdominal cavity specif such membranes connected with the jejunum and ileum in humans

2) a fold of membrane comparable to a mesentery and supporting a viscus (as the heart) that is not a part of the digestive tract

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n.

a double layer of peritoneum attaching the stomach, small intestine, pancreas, spleen, and other abdominal organs to the posterior wall of the abdomen. It contains blood and lymph vessels and nerves supplying these organs.

• mesenteric adj.

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mes·en·tery (mezґən-ter″e) mesenterium. mesenteric adj