1. supporting membrane: a membrane that supports an organ or body part, especially the double-layered membrane of the peritoneum attached to the back wall of the abdominal cavity that supports the small intestine
2. membrane in invertebrates: a supportive membrane surrounding and giving structure to the inner organs of invertebrates
[15th century. Via modern Latin mesenterium< Greek mesenterion "middle intestine" < enteron "intestine"]
