114 ANATOMY OF THE RABBIT 



intestine. The pelvic viscera, which includes the lower 

 rectum and anus and a portion of the urinogenital system, will 

 be observed in connection with dissection of the urinogenital 

 system (p. 115). 



Liver (Fig. 31): Note the attachments and relations of the 

 liver, the number and arrangement of the lobes, the gall bladder, 

 hepatic, cystic, and common bile ducts. 



Pancreas : In man and the cat the pancreas is well formed, 

 but in the rabbit it is diffused throughout much of the mesentery 

 between the spleen and duodenum. Its duct is very difhcult 

 to find. In addition to its digestive functions the pancreas 

 has an endocrine function. There are structures in it, called 

 islands of Langerhans, which elaborate insulin. Hypofunction 

 of this part of the pancreas probably produces a form of 

 diabetes. 



Salivary glands : The anatomy of the salivary glands was 

 studied in Chapter IX, C, but may be profitably reviewed at 

 this time. 



Gastric glands : The stomach may be entirely freed from the 

 mesentery, duodenum (ligate and transect the duodenum 

 between the orifice of the common bile duct and pyloris) , and 

 esophagus, slit open and washed out so that the digestive glands 

 may be seen in the walls. 



The intestines should be removed and studied. Method: 

 Transect the colon just craniad of the inferior mesenteric artery 

 (51), leaving the last three to six inches of the large intestine 

 in place. This study should include the length, size, and form 

 of the esophagus, small intestine, cecum and appendix, and 

 entire large intestine. How do these lengths compare with 

 those of man? 



E. THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM 



The endocrine organs are frequently spoken of as the chemical 

 regulators of the body. The student has already dissected 

 out the more readiy accessible endocrine, or ductless glands; 



