Adhesion

Adhesion - The joining of normally unconnected body parts by bands of fibrous tissue. Adhesions are sometimes present from birth, but they most often develop as a result of scarring after inflammation.

Adhesions are most common in the abdomen, where they often form after peritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal lining) or surgery. Sometimes, loops of intestine are bound together by adhesions, causing intestinal obstruction (see intestine, obstruction of). In such cases, surgery is usually required to cut the bands of tissue.