abdomen

noun ab·do·men \ˈab-də-mən, -ˌdō-; əb-ˈdō-mən, ab-\

: the part of the body below the chest that contains the stomach and other organs

: the rear part of an insect's body

Full Definition of ABDOMEN

: the part of the body between the thorax and the pelvis; also : the cavity of this part of the trunk containing the chief viscera

: the posterior section of the body behind the thorax in an arthropod — see insect illustration

— ab·dom·i·nal \ab-ˈdä-mə-n^əl, əb-, -ˈdäm-n^əl\ adjective

— ab·dom·i·nal·ly \-ē\ adverb

See abdomen defined for English-language learners

See abdomen defined for kids

Origin of ABDOMEN

Middle French & Latin; Middle French, from Latin

First Known Use: 1543

Related to ABDOMEN

Synonyms: stomach, belly, breadbasket [slang], gut, solar plexus, tummy

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

ABDOMEN Defined for Kids

abdomen

noun ab·do·men \ˈab-də-mən, ab-ˈdō-\

Definition of ABDOMEN for Kids

: the part of the body between the chest and the hips including the cavity containing the stomach and other digestive organs

: the hind part of the body of an arthropod (as an insect)

Medical Dictionary

abdomen

noun ab·do·men \ˈab-də-mən, -ˌdō-; əb-ˈdō-mən, ab-\

Medical Definition of ABDOMEN

a : the part of the body between the thorax and the pelvis with the exception of the back—called also belly b : the cavity of this part of the trunk lined by the peritoneum, enclosed by the body walls, the diaphragm, and the pelvic floor, and containing the visceral organs (as the stomach, intestines, and liver) c : the portion of this cavity between the diaphragm and the brim of the pelvis—compare pelvic cavity

: the posterior often elongated region of the body behind the thorax in arthropods