abdomen

/ˈæbdəmən/

/ˈæbdəmən/

Other forms: abdomens

Your abdomen is the middle part of the front of your body, between your chest area and your pelvis. If the doctor asks if your abdomen hurts, the doctor wants to know if you have any pain in your belly area.

The word abdomen is also the name used for the cavity, enclosed by the abdominal muscles, that contains the organs in the abdominal area. The abdomen's contents in humans include your stomach, liver, spleen, small intestine, and kidneys. The word abdomen is sometimes shortened to abs, especially in infomercials and health clubs when referring to the muscles of your abdomen and how you should want flat ones.

Definitions of abdomen

1. noun

   the region of the body of a vertebrate between the thorax and the pelvis
   synonyms: belly, stomach, venter

   types:

   underbelly, underbody

   the soft belly or underside of an animal's body

   type of:

   body part

   any part of an organism such as an organ or extremity
2. noun

   the cavity containing the major viscera; in mammals it is separated from the thorax by the diaphragm
   synonyms: abdominal cavity

   type of:

   bodily cavity, cavity, cavum

   (anatomy) a natural hollow or sinus within the body