136 ELEMENTS OF MAMMALIAN ANATOMY. 



two sides of the portal fissure, ensheathing the portal 

 vein, hepatic artery, and cystic duct. The gastrosplenic 

 omentum stretches from the cardiac region of the stomach 

 to the spleen, which it embraces, and then proceeds to 

 the diaphragm. 



The mesenteries are the two layers of peritoneum 

 suspending the intestine from the dorsal abdominal wall. 

 There are four mesenteries : the true mesentery, sus- 

 pending the jejunum and ileum; the mesoduodenum, 

 suspending the duodenum; the mesocolon, suspending 

 the colon; and the mesorectum, suspending the rectum. 



The parietes or parietal peritoneum is that portion 

 lining the walls of the abdominal cavity. It is a closed 

 sac in the male, but in the female the Fallopian tubes 

 open into it. 



The ligaments are the layers of the peritoneum sus- 

 pending other organs than parts of the alimentary 

 canal. The falciform ligament extends from the caudal 

 surface of the diaphragm and the abdominal wall, to 

 the surface of the liver, which its line of attachment 

 divides into halves. The round ligament is a fetal relic 

 extending from the umbilicus to the longitudinal fissure 

 on the caudal surface of the liver. A third ligament 

 connects the dorsal border of the liver with the dia- 

 phragm. The broad ligaments of the uterus are the folds 

 of peritoneum which embrace the uterus, the Fallopian 

 tubes, and the ovaries. The ovarian ligaments are short 

 cords extending from the ends of the uterine cornua to 

 the ovaries. The round ligaments of the uterus pass 

 from the sides of the uterus to the brim of the pelvis. 



The peritoneum is called a serous membrane because 

 of the colorless serum secreted by it. Other serous 

 membranes are the pericardium of the heart, the pleura 

 lining the thoracic cavity and investing the lungs, and 



