Ilia
/ˈɪliə/noun
The plural of ileum, the lower part of the small intestine.
Did you know?The singular form is Latin ileum, and the English medical term survives through centuries of scholarly anatomy, not everyday speech.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
īlia
“the flanks, groin, and lower belly”
Ancient Greek
Greek
eileós
“a twisting or colic-like intestinal condition”
Medieval Latin
Latin
ileum
“the lower part of the small intestine”
16th–17th Century
English
ilia
“the plural anatomical term for the lower intestines”
Modern English
English
ilia
“plural of ileum; the lower part of the small intestine”