cecum

ce·cum also cae·cum   (sē'kəm)    n.   pl. ce·ca also cae·ca (-kə) A saclike cavity with only one opening. Anatomy The large blind pouch forming the beginning of the large intestine. Also called blind gut. [Middle English, from Latin (intestīnum) caecum, blind (intestine), neuter of caecus, blind.] ce'cal adj., ce'cal·ly adv.

Main Entry: ce·cum
Variant: or chiefly British cae·cum /'sE-k&m/
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural ce·ca or chiefly British cae·ca /-k&/
: a cavity open at one end (as the blind end of a duct); especially : the blindpouch at the beginning of the large intestine into which the ileum opens from one side and which is continuous with the colon

cecum ce·cum or cae·cum (sē'kəm)
n. pl. ce·ca (-kə)

1. The large blind pouch forming the beginning of the large intestine. Also called blind gut.

2. A saclike cavity with only one opening.

cecum   (sē'kəm)  Pronunciation Key  Plural ceca A large pouch forming the beginning of the large intestine. The appendix and the ileum of the small intestine both connect to the cecum.

cecum

pouch or large tubelike structure in the lower abdominal cavity that receives undigested food material from the small intestine and is considered the first region of the large intestine. It is separated from the ileum (the final portion of the small intestine) by the ileocecal valve (also called Bauhin valve), which limits the rate of food passage into the cecum and may help prevent material from returning to the small intestine.

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