Search the Dictionary

Of or pertaining to the abdomen; ventral; as, the abdominal regions, muscles, cavity.

A group including the greater part of fresh-water fishes, and many marine ones, having the ventral fins under the abdomen behind the pectorals.

A group of cirripeds having abdominal appendages.

Examination of the abdomen to detect abdominal disease.

e caterpillars. The true caterpillars have three pairs of true legs, and several pairs of abdominal fleshy legs (prolegs) armed with hooks. Some are hairy, others naked. They usually feed on leaves, fruit, and succulent vegetables, being often very destructive, Many of them are popularly called worms, as the cutworm, c…

A hollow place; a hollow; as, the abdominal cavity. An instrument with a small cavity, like a small spoon. Arbuthot. Abnormal spaces or excavations are frequently formed in the lungs, which are designated cavities or vomicæ. Quain. Body cavity, the coelum. See under Body.

The apex of the last abdominal segment of an insect.

A tumor containing a large portion of the abdominal viscera, occasioned by relaxation of the walls of the abdomen.

of pregnancy in which the fetus is not in the uterus, but in the Fallopian tube or in the abdominal cavity.

wo European species (L. noctiluca, and L. splendidula), which emit light from some of the abdominal segments. Like a glowworm in the night, The which hath fire in darkness, none in light. Shak.

alls of the latter; as, hernia of the brain, of the lung, or of the bowels. Hernia of the abdominal viscera in most common. Called also rupture. Strangulated hernia, a hernia so tightly compressed in some part of the channel through which it has been protruded as to arrest its circulation, and produce swelling of the p…

e inguen or groin; as, an inguinal canal or ligament; inguinal hernia. Inguinal ring. See Abdominal ring, under Abdominal.

a stage following the zoëa, in the development of most crabs. In this stage the legs and abdominal appendages have appeared, the abdomen is relatively long, and the eyes are large. Also used adjectively.

d tissues), which connect the intestines and their appendages with the dorsal wall of the abdominal cavity. The mesentery proper is connected with the jejunum and ilium, the other mesenteries being called mesoc, mesocolon, mesorectum, etc.

The fold of peritoneum connecting the stomach with the dorsal wall of the abdominal cavity; the mesogastrium.

A fold of the peritoneum connecting the liver with the dorsal wall of the abdominal cavity.

The fold of peritoneum connecting the ovary with the wall of the abdominal cavity.

The walls of a cavity or an organ; as, the abdominal parietes; the parietes of the cranium.

in which the air bladder is provided with a duct, and the ventral fins, when present, are abdominal. It includes the salmons, herrings, carps, catfishes, and others.

One of the abdominal legs of a crustacean. See Illust. under Crustacea.