Omentums

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Membranes of fatty tissue in the abdomen that drape over and support the intestines and other organs; folds of peritoneum serving as protection and fat storage in the digestive system; structures within the abdominal cavity that help cushion organs and supply blood vessels
2. Sheets of fatty and connective tissue in the abdominal cavity enveloping intestines; peritoneal folds providing protective support and insulation around organs; layers contributing to fat reserves and vascular supply within the digestive tract area
3. Layers of fatty tissue hanging from the stomach and intestines that protect and hold internal organs; folds of peritoneum involved in immune response and fat deposit; anatomical components aiding in organ stability and cushioning inside the abdomen

Etymology: "Omentums" is simply the plural of "omentum", the anatomical term for the fold of abdominal membrane that hangs over the intestines like an apron. The singular comes straight from Latin "ōmentum", which meant the fatty covering of an animal's entrails, and the English word keeps that sense in its anatomical use. English took the word directly from Latin, so the plural form follows the Latin pattern of "omenta", which is the form most anatomists and dictionaries prefer, though "omentums" also appears in English usage.

Synonyms: omentum