296 



THE ALIMENTARY TRACT, ETC. 



; L 



tomosis, from which three branches (3) of varying size unite at the 

 anterior extremity of the pancreas to form the common bile-duct 



[Duct Its clioledocJnis, Dc). 

 The common bile-duct 

 runs through the whole 

 length of the pancreas^ 

 receiving near its origin 

 additional hepatic ducts 

 (i>//^) from the middle 

 lobe of the liver. In 

 this course the duct lies 

 either on the ventral 

 surface of the pancreas 

 or under a thin layer of 

 the glandular tissue; it 

 receives the ducts of the 

 pancreas and leaves that 

 organ at its posterior 

 border as a round and 

 strong canal {Dc^)- The 

 duct courses in the 

 gastro - duodenal liga- 

 ment, and reaches the 

 dorsal surface of the 

 duodenum at a very 

 acute angle ; it then 

 pierces the wall ob- 

 liquely and terminates 

 with a slit-like or elon- 

 gated oval opening. 

 b. [Minute structure. 

 (i) The liver is com- 

 posed of various tissues : 

 it possesses a peritoneal 

 covering, a fibrous cover- 

 ing, which supplies tra- 

 beculae to support the 

 various other tissues, blood-vessels, hepatic cells or true liver paren- 

 chyma, and bile-canals. 



a. The peritoneal covering of the liver encloses the organ 

 almost completely, the only exceptions being where the various 



Tlie pancreas and bile-canals. The liver has been displaced 

 towards the head. 



