| abdomen | <anatomy> The portion of the body which lies between the thorax and the pelvis. It contains a cavity (abdominal cavity) separated by the diaphragm from the thoracic cavity above and by the plane of the pelvic inlet from the pelvic cavity below and lined with a serous membrane, the peritoneum. This cavity contains the abdominal viscera and is enclosed by a wall formed by the abdominal muscles, vertebral column and the ilia. It is divided into nine regions by four imaginary lines projected onto the anterior wall, of which two pass horizontally around the body (the upper at the level of the cartilages of the ninth ribs, the lower at the tops of the crests of the ilia) and two extend vertically on each side of the body from the cartilage of the eighth rib to the centre of the inguinal ligament. The regions are: three upper right hypochondriac, epigastric, left hypochondriac, three middle right lateral, umbilical, left lateral and three lower right inguinal, pubic, left inguinal. Origin: L. Possibly from abdere = to hide (15 Oct 1997) |
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| abdomen obstipum | A rarely used term for deformity of the abdomen due to congenitally short rectus muscles. (05 Mar 2000) |
| abdomen, acute | Clinical syndrome characterised by abdominal pain of great severity associated with other symptoms and signs, usually those of acute peritonitis, which might well be the result of a ruptured abdominal viscus or a similar abdominal catastrophe requiring urgent surgical operation. (12 Dec 1998) |
| abdominal | <anatomy> Pertaining to the abdomen. Origin: L. Abdominalis (18 Nov 1997) |
| abdominal abscess | <surgery> A localised pus-forming (suppurative) bacterial infection that occurs within the abdominal cavity as the result of a perforated viscus or post operative complication. Treatment requires either percutaneous or open surgical drainage. (27 Sep 1997) |
| abdominal adhesions | <surgery> Scarring that can occur within the abdomen in response to surgery or chronic inflammation. (27 Sep 1997) |
| abdominal angina | <surgery> A dull, crampy centralised abdominal pain that occurs 15-30 minutes after a meal. Associated with ischaemic bowel disease. Evaluated with mesenteric arteriography. (27 Sep 1997) |
| abdominal aorta | <anatomy> The largest arterial conduit below the diaphragm. This term refers to the portion of the aorta below the diaphragm to the bifurcation into the right and left common iliac arteries. It supplies blood to the abdominal viscera, pelvic organs and lower extremities. (20 Jun 2000) |
| abdominal aortic aneurysm | <surgery> A distended and weakened area in the wall of the abdominal aorta, more common in those who suffer from atherosclerosis. Symptoms include sudden, severe abdominal pain with radiation to the back. (27 Sep 1997) |
| abdominal aortic coarctation | <radiology> 2% of all coarctations, (most common site is thoracic: just distal to origin of L SCA), may be isolated congenital anomaly, associated with: thoracic aortic coarctation, idiopathic hypercalcaemia syndrome, rubella syndrome (ToRCHS), Takayasu arteritis, neurofibromatosis, radiation therapy, fibromuscular disease (12 Dec 1998) |
| abdominal aortic plexus | <anatomy, neurology> An autonomic plexus surrounding the abdominal aorta, directly continuous with the thoracic aortic plexus above and continued inferior to the bifurcation of the aorta as the superior hypogastric plexus. Synonym: plexus aorticus abdominalis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| abdominal apoplexy | <surgery> Mesenteric haemorrhage, thrombosis, or embolus involving the mesenteric or abdominal blood vessels. (05 Mar 2000) |
| abdominal ballottement | <procedure> Examination of the abdomen by palpation to detect excessive amounts of fluid (ascites) by causing organs to bob up and down in the fluid milieu. (05 Mar 2000) |
| abdominal canal | A passage in the lower anterior abdominal wall which in the male allows passage of the spermatic cord and in the female contains the round ligament. Because of the weakness it creates in the abdominal wall, it is the most frequent site for a hernia. (12 Dec 1998) |
| abdominal cavity | <anatomy> That portion of the body extending from beneath the diaphragm down to the pelvis. It contains all the abdominal organs. (27 Sep 1997) |