abdomen

Everyday

1. Your abdomen is the front part of your body between your chest and your hips; it is the scientific word for your tummy or belly. It holds your stomach, intestines, liver and other organs. tree →
2. In insects and spiders, the abdomen is the back section of the body. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on the human body, the abdomen holds the digestive organs. Insects have three body parts: head, thorax and abdomen. In health and first aid, «abdominal pain» is a tummy ache, and in PE «abdominal muscles» (abs) are tummy muscles. Phrases: «pain in the abdomen», «abdominal muscles», «head, thorax and abdomen».

Examples

• The doctor pressed gently on my abdomen. tree →
• Your stomach is inside your abdomen. tree →
• An insect's body has a head, a thorax and an abdomen. tree →
• The bee's sting is at the end of its abdomen. tree →
• Sit-ups make the muscles of your abdomen stronger. tree →
• A sudden sharp pain in the abdomen needs a doctor. tree →
• The spider has a big round abdomen. tree →
• Label the abdomen on the diagram of the ant. tree →

Note

Countable: an abdomen («an» because it starts with a vowel sound). Adjective: abdominal. Say «AB-duh-men». Everyday words: tummy, belly, stomach — though the stomach is really just one organ inside the abdomen.