[doo-uh-deen-l, dyoo-; doo-od-n-uh
l, dyoo-] 
| of or pertaining to the duodenum. |
| du·o·de·num (dōō'ə-dē'nəm, dyōō'-, dōō-ŏd'n-əm, dyōō-) n. pl. du·o·de·na (dōō'ə-dē'nə, dyōō'-, dōō-ŏd'n-ə, dyōō-) or du·o·de·nums The beginning portion of the small intestine, starting at the lower end of the stomach and extending to the jejunum. [Middle English, from Medieval Latin, short for intestīnum duodēnum digitōrum, intestine of twelve finger-widths (in length), from Latin duodēnum, genitive pl. of duodēnī, twelve each, from duodecim, twelve; see duodecimal.] du'o·de'nal (dōō'ə-dē'nəl, dyōō'-, dōō-ŏd'n-əl, dyōō-) adj. |