a. (and sb.) Also 7–8 -ack, cel-. [ad. L. cœliac-us, a. Gr. κοιλιακός belonging to the belly; also, suffering in the bowels, f. κοιλία belly, bowels (f. κοῖλος hollow). Cf. F. cœliaque (in Cotgr. celiac, celiaque).]
A. adj. Of or belonging to the belly, or cavity of the abdomen.
Cœliac artery or axis, a thick short branch issuing from the aorta just below the diaphragm, and giving off the coronary, hepatic and splenic arteries. † Cœliac passion or flux a kind of chronic flux of the intestines. Cœliac plexus, that process of the solar plexus which surrounds the cœliac axis. Cœliac canal, in crinoids, a canal which runs into the arms from the cœloma or body-cavity.
1662. J. Chandler, Van Helmont’s Oriat., 222. In the Cœliack or belly passion, the Pylorus is never shut.
1681. trans. Willis’ Rem. Med. Wks., Vocab., Celiac vessels, Vessels belonging to the Belly.
1713. Cheselden, Anat. (1726), 104. Immediately below the diaphragm arises the cœliac artery from the aorta.
1836. Todd, Cycl. Anat., I. 194/1. The cœliac artery, called, also, cœliac axis, is one of the largest and shortest of the vessels given off by the abdominal aorta.
1836. Macgillivray, trans. Humboldt’s Trav., xv. 197. It attacks … the cœliac plexus of the abdominal nerves.
1877. Huxley, Anat. Inv. Anim., ix. 586. The subtentacular and cœliac canals communicate with channels in the perivisceral tissue.
† B. sb. = Cœliac passion.
1661. Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., 76. The spleen [of a he-goat] rosted helpeth the cœliack.
