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Medical Dictionary

abdomen

Pronunciation (ab-dō′men, ab′dō-men)
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  1. The part of the trunk that lies between the thorax and the pelvis. The abdomen does not include the vertebral region posteriorly but is considered by some anatomists to include the pelvis (abdominopelvic cavity). It includes the greater part of the abdominal cavity (cavitas abdominis [TA]) and is divided by arbitrary planes into nine regions. See also: abdominal regions, under region

Syn: venter (1)

[L. abdomen, etym. uncertain]

WebMD Medical Reference from "Stedman's Medical Dictionary"

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