THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM 79 



The caudal surface presents a ventral convexity and a 

 dorsal concavity to the cranial surface of the posterior 

 lobule. The concavity receives also the anterior surface 

 of the right kidney and the accompanying adrenal gland. 

 A ventral strip of the posterior surface is presented to 

 the descending limb of the duodenum. The posterior 

 lobule is approximately pyramidal. The base of the pyra- 

 mid fastens to the right side of the inferior vena cava. 

 The triangular surface facing the anterior lobule is slightly 

 concave medially, decidedly convex laterally, so that the 

 apex of the pyramid points backward. The renal im- 

 pression is the concave triangular dorsal surface which re- 

 ceives the ventral side of the right kidney. A spur of the 

 lobule runs dorsal in front of the kidney. Occasionally the 

 posterior lobule is more or less divided into two secondary 

 lobules. 



The caudate lobe (Spigelian lobe) comprises two dis- 

 tinct semicircular lobules, the anterior and the posterior 

 lobules. These unite mediad with each other and with 

 the left side of the inferior vena cava, but are separated 

 laterally. As previously mentioned, the caudate lobe is 

 annexed to the right lateral lobe dorsal, and sometimes 

 ventral, to the inferior vena cava. These lobules fit neatly 

 into the lesser curvature, and adjacent surfaces, of the 

 stomach. The anterior lobule is in front of this organ, the 

 posterior behind it, lying in the lesser peritoneal cavity. 

 The esophagus fits into a groove, the esophageal impres- 

 sion, on the caudal surface of the anterior lobule. 



The liver and diaphragm are united by several mem- 

 branous ligaments which radiate outward from the region 

 where the inferior vena cava pierces the diaphragm. The 

 falciform (or suspensory) ligament of the liver lies in 

 the sagittal plane of the body. It connects the diaphragm 

 ventral to the inferior vena cava with the anterior surface 



