‖n. [ NL. See Meso-, and Enteron. ] (Anat.) All that part of the alimentary canal which is developed from the primitive enteron and is lined with hypoblast. It is distinguished from the stomodaeum, a part at the anterior end of the canal, including the cavity of the mouth, and the proctodaeum, a part at the posterior end, which are formed by invagination and are lined with epiblast. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. mesente`rion, me`sos + 'e`nteron intestine: cf. F. mésentère. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Anat.) The membranes, or one of the membranes (consisting of a fold of the peritoneum and inclosed tissues), which connect the intestines and their appendages with the dorsal wall of the abdominal cavity. The mesentery proper is connected with the jejunum and ilium, the other mesenteries being called mesocaecum, mesocolon, mesorectum, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) One of the vertical muscular radiating partitions which divide the body cavity of Anthozoa into chambers. [ 1913 Webster ]