Final answer:
Peritonitis is the inflammation of the peritoneum, a serious condition usually requiring emergency surgery and antibiotics, with a notable mortality rate.
Step-by-step explanation:
The clinical condition when the membrane of the abdominal cavity, known as the peritoneum, is inflamed is called peritonitis. This serious condition can be caused by a breach in the wall of the alimentary canal, which allows contents such as gastric juices, blood, or bacteria to enter the peritoneal cavity, leading to chemical, hemorrhagic, or bacterial peritonitis respectively. Examples of events that may cause peritonitis include perforated ulcers, ruptured tubal pregnancies, liver or spleen injuries, and infections from appendicitis, colonic diverticulitis, or pelvic inflammatory disease. Emergency surgery and intensive antibiotic therapy are typical treatments, and although medical advancements have decreased its mortality rate, peritonitis remains a high-risk condition with a mortality rate between 30 to 40 percent.