n. pl. du·o·de·na (d′ə-dēnə, dy′-, d-ŏdn-ə, dy-) or du·o·de·nums The beginning portion of the small intestine, starting at the lower end of the stomach and extending to the jejunum. [Middle English, from Medieval Latin, short for intestīnum duodēnum digitōrum, intestine of twelve finger-widths (in length), from Latin duodēnum, genitive pl. of duodēnī, twelve each, from duodecim, twelve; see DUODECIMAL.] du′o·denal (d′ə-dēnəl, dy′-, d-ŏdn-əl, dy-) adj. |
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