peri-

(Greek: around, enclosing, surrounding, about, near, close; often used as a prefix)

peritendinitis
1. Inflammation of the sheath of a tendon.
2. An inflammation of the tendon sheath.
perithecium (s), perithecia (pl)
1. An organ in certain fungi and lichens, surrounding and enveloping the masses of fructification.
2. In some kinds of fungus, a flask-shaped fruiting body that contains spores.
peritonaeum (s), peritonea (pl), peritonaea (pl)
The smooth serous membrane which lines the cavity of the abdomen, or the whole body cavity when there is no diaphragm, and, turning back, surrounds the viscera, forming a closed, or nearly closed, sac.
peritoneal lavage (s) (noun), peritoneal lavages (pl)
The instillation and retrieval of a physiologic solution in the peritoneal cavity in order to examine the effluent for abnormal cells, bacteria, or evidence of internal bleeding following trauma.
peritoneoclysis
Irrigation of the abdominal cavity.
peritoneum
1. The transparent serous (thin) membrane lining the abdominal cavity and reflected inward at various places to cover the visceral organs (organs inside the body).
2. The large membrane in the abdominal cavity that connects and supports internal organs.

It is composed of many folds which pass between or around the various organs.

Two folds are of primary importance: the omentum (double-layered fold of peritoneum that attaches the stomach to other organs in the abdominal cavity), which hangs in front of the stomach and intestine; and the mesentery (double layer of peritoneum that attaches to the back wall of the abdominal cavity and supports the small intestines), which attaches the small intestine and much of the large intestine to the posterior (back) abdominal cavity.

peritonitis
Inflammation of the peritoneum (the tissue layer of cells lining the inner wall of the abdomen and pelvis).

Peritonitis can result from infection; such as, bacteria or parasites, injury and bleeding, or diseases; such as, systemic lupus erythematosus.

Lupus is a condition of chronic inflammation caused by an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases are illnesses which occur when the body's tissues are attacked by its own immune system.

peritonsillar
Around a tonsil or the tonsils.
peritracheal
1. Surrounding the tracheae.
2. Situated around the trachea.
peritrich
1. Any of various protozoans, such as the vorticella, having a wide oral opening surrounded by cilia.
2. Any ciliate protozoan of the subclass Peritrichia.
peritricha
A division of ciliated Infusoria having a circle of cilia around the oral disk and sometimes another around the body. It includes the vorticellas.
peritrichous
1. Relating to cilia or other appendicular organs projecting from the periphery of a cell.
2. Having flagella uniformly distributed over a cell; used especially with reference to bacteria.
peritropal
1. Rotatory; circuitous.
2. Having the axis of the seed perpendicular to the axis of the pericarp to which it is attached.
periuterine
1. Surrounding the uterus.
2. Around the uterus.
perivascular
Situated around or near a vessel or the tissues surrounding a blood vessel.

Related "around, round, surrounding" units: ambi-; ampho-; circ-; circum-; cyclo-, -cycle; gyro-.