celom

[ see-luh m ]
/ ˈsi ləm /

noun, plural ce·loms, ce·lo·ma·ta [si-loh-muh-tuh] /sɪˈloʊ mə tə/.

coelom.

Words nearby celom

cellulose acetate, cellulose nitrate, cellulose triacetate, cellulosic, celo-navigation, celom, celonychia, celophlebitis, celoschisis, celoscope, celoscopy

Definition for celom (2 of 2)

coelom

or coe·lome ce·lom

[ see-luh m ]
/ ˈsi ləm /

noun, plural coe·loms, coe·lo·ma·ta [si-loh-muh-tuh] /sɪˈloʊ mə tə/. Zoology.

the body cavity of higher metazoans, between the body wall and intestine, lined with a mesodermal epithelium.

Origin of coelom

1875–80; < Greek koílōma cavity, equivalent to koilō-, variant stem of koiloûn to hollow out (verbal derivative of koîlos hollow) + -ma noun suffix denoting result

OTHER WORDS FROM coelom

coe·lom·ic [si-lom-ik, -loh-mik] /sɪˈlɒm ɪk, -ˈloʊ mɪk/, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for celom (1 of 2)

celom
/ (ˈsiːləm) /

noun

a less frequent US spelling of coelom

British Dictionary definitions for celom (2 of 2)

coelom

esp US celom

/ (ˈsiːləʊm, -ləm) /

noun

the body cavity of many multicellular animals, situated in the mesoderm and containing the digestive tract and other visceral organs

Derived forms of coelom

coelomic or esp US celomic (sɪˈlɒmɪk), adjective

Word Origin for coelom

C19: from Greek koilōma cavity, from koilos hollow; see coel-

Medical definitions for celom (1 of 2)

celom
[ sē′ləm ]

n.

Variant ofcoelom

Other words from celom

ce•lom′ic (-lŏm′ĭk) adj.

Medical definitions for celom (2 of 2)

coelom

n.

The cavity formed by the splitting of the embryonic mesoderm into two layers; in mammals it then forms into the peritoneal, pleural, and pericardial cavities.

Scientific definitions for celom

coelom
[ sē′ləm ]

The body cavity that forms from the mesoderm during the embryonic development of more complex animals. The coelom suspends the gut in fluid in the middle of the body, protecting it from gravity and allowing great increases in body size. The presence or absence of a coelom is important for the classification of animal phyla. See more at deuterostome protostome.