Quick Facts
- Related Topics:
- abdomen
- membrane
- peritoneum
- Organ
- viscera
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
mesentery
anatomy
mesentery, a continuous folded band of membranous tissue (peritoneum) that is attached to the wall of the abdomen and encloses the viscera. In humans, the mesentery wraps around the pancreas and the small intestine and extends down around the colon and the upper portion of the rectum. One of its major functions is to hold the abdominal organs in their proper position.
Is the mesentery a distinct organ?Learn more about the mesentery, a continuous folded band of membranous tissue that holds the intestines and other organs in place and which some researchers consider to be a distinct organ.
See all videos for this articleBecause the mesentery is a continuous tissue and possesses clear anatomical and functional properties, some researchers consider it to be a distinct organ.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Letricia Dixon.


" height="20" alt="HEW Logo">