220 BULLETIN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN. 



branches ; one from about the cloaca, the other from the anterior 

 region of the thigh. 



The two renal portals are connected by the Pelvic Veins, Pel., 

 PI. 11, which unite in the mid- ventral line of the body to form 

 the Abdominal Vein, Abd., PI. 11. The Pelvic Veins, Pel., 

 PI. 11, unite with the renal portal near the middle of the kidney. 

 Prom this point of union each pelvic vein runs along the inner 

 side of the body wall until it is joined by the femoral; it also re- 

 ceives a number of small branches from the muscles of the back. 

 After the femoral has joined it, the pelvic vein runs anteriorly 

 towards the point of union with its fellow from the opposite 

 side, where, as already mentioned, they form the Abdominal 

 Vein, Abd., PL 11. 



From its j)lace of origin the abdominal vein runs through the 

 ventral mesentery and the posterior part of the liver to join the 

 hepatic portal. The abdominal vein receives close to the union 

 of the two pelvic veins a small branch which comes from the anal 

 gland and cloaca, A., PI. 11. In its .course through the ventral 

 mesentery it receives the Cystic Veins, Cys., PI. 11 ; these are 

 usually two in number. It also receives several small veins 

 from the body walls. The abdominal vein enters the liver at 

 the fissure in its posterior border. In its course through the 

 liver it receives branches from the liver substance; the largest 

 of these comes from the left side of the liver. 



the hepatic portal. 



The Hepatic Portal, H. P., PI. 11, is formed on the dorsal 

 surface of the liver by the union of the mesenteric, gastric, 

 splenic and abdominal veins. The Mesenteric Vein, Mes., 

 PI. 11, arises by from twelve to fifteen branches from the whole 

 length of the intestine ; occasionally at its distal end it receives 

 a few small branches from about the cloaca. For the greater 

 part of its course it is situated in the mesentery; the anterior 

 portion, however, passes through the pancreas in order that it 

 may reach the dorsal side of the liver. The anterior three 

 branches from the intestine to the mesenteric vein are larger 



