Inflammation of the peritoneum, the membrane lining the abdominal cavity.
From 'endo-' (within) + 'peritonitis' (from 'peritoneum,' the abdominal membrane + '-itis' suffix for inflammation). The endo- prefix emphasizes the internal location of this serious condition.
Peritonitis is one of medicine's surgical emergencies—when a surgical incision or organ rupture allows bacteria into the sterile peritoneal space, infection can spread rapidly through this membrane that connects all abdominal organs, which is why immediate intervention is critical.
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