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peritone/o

A word root that means the peritoneum, the thin lining of the abdominal cavity.

pair-ih-toh-NEE-oh root

What it means

The peritoneum is the thin layer that lines the belly cavity and wraps most of the organs in it. Peritonitis is inflammation of this lining, often from a burst bowel or appendix, and peritoneal dialysis uses the lining as a filter, with fluid run into and out of the abdomen.

At a glance

Also writtenperitoneo-

Related terms

-itis

A word ending that means inflammation.

dialysis

A treatment that removes wastes and extra fluid from the blood when the kidneys can no longer do it.

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