abdominal cavity

noun

plural abdominal cavities

: the cavity of the abdomen that is lined by peritoneum, is bounded above by the diaphragm, anteriorly by a wall of muscle and tissue, and posteriorly by the spinal column, is continuous below with the pelvic cavity, and contains many of the visceral organs and especially those involved in digestion (such as the stomach, liver, pancreas, kidneys, and intestines) : abdomen sense 1b

Most hernias can be pushed back into the abdominal cavity.

—Fred Cicetti

He makes a half-inch incision in the navel and inserts a laparoscope, a flexible optical device for inspecting the abdominal cavity.

—Matt Clark

Examples of abdominal cavity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examiners will look to test blood and urine, if available, but also could turn to an oily fluid that typically accumulates in lung and abdominal cavities, and samples of muscle and brain, to help determine the causes of death. —Susan Montoya Bryan, arkansasonline.com, 2 Mar. 2025

The diaphragm is just below the lungs, separating the chest from the abdominal cavity. —Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 26 Feb. 2025

This allows the bowel's contents to leak into the abdominal cavity. —Lindsay Curtis, Health, 29 Dec. 2024

The doctor slides a large catheter into an incision in your abdominal cavity. —Outside Online, 19 Feb. 2025

One way to speed the insulin’s effects is to implant a pump right inside the abdominal cavity, so the insulin can get to the liver more quickly. —IEEE Spectrum, 27 May 2015

Some had missing arms, missing legs, holes through their bodies, exposed abdominal cavities. —Sara Schilling, Sacramento Bee, 11 Feb. 2025

There were 375 ml of blood and fat droplets in the abdominal cavity. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2025

The hole in the intestinal wall can cause the contents to leak into the abdominal cavity, causing infection. —Lindsay Curtis, Health, 29 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1745, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for abdominal cavity

• concavity
• depravity
• gravity
• intracavity
• microgravity
• supergravity

Medical Definition

abdominal cavity

noun

: the cavity of the abdomen (see abdomen sense 1a) that is lined by peritoneum, is bounded above by the diaphragm, anteriorly by a wall of muscle and tissue, and posteriorly by the spinal column, is continuous below with the pelvic cavity, and contains many of the visceral organs and especially those involved in digestion (such as the stomach, liver, pancreas, kidneys, and intestines) : abdomen sense 1b