THE ABDOMEN. 



The dissection of the abdomen proper should be preceded by an 

 examination of the mammary glands of the female or the external 

 genital organs of the male, according to the sex of the subject being 

 dissected. 



The mammary glands (Mammae).^ — The mammary glands of the 

 mare ai'e two in number, attached to the abdominal wall immediately 

 in front of the pubes. Each gland forms a rounded eminence, of greater 

 or less prominence dependent upon the activity or quiescence of the 

 organ, with an antero-posterior diameter somewhat in excess of the 

 transverse measurement. In the middle line, a shallow, longitudinal 

 inter-viammary groove (sulcus intermammaricus) marks the extent 

 of each gland. The skin covering the mammae is thin, soft and 

 generally deeply pigmented, with hairs that are few in number and 

 downy in texture, and numerous large sebaceous and sweat glands. 



From the most prominent part of each gland a laterally flattened, 

 conical teat (papilla mammae) projects. At the summit of the teat 

 there are two — rarely three — orifices that lead into milk canals (ductus 

 lactiferi).- If one of these be slit open it will be found to traverse the 

 length of the teat and end in a dilated milk sinus (sinus lactiferus) at 

 the base thereof An examination of the wall of the sinus reveals the 

 openings of ducts from the glandular substance of the organ. 



It should be noted that hairs are very few on the teat generally and 

 entirely absent over its apex. 



Dissection. — The skin must be carefully incised along the inter- 

 mamniarv groove and raised from the surface of the gland. On 

 reaching the base of the nipple, make a circular incision through the 

 skin, so as to leave the teat intact and in position. 



Over the whole of the mammary gland, except the teat, no very 

 great difficulty is experienced in demonstrating the presence of super- 

 ficial and deep fascia. The superficial fascia is loose and continuous 

 with the like investment of the abdominal wall in general. A greater 



1 Mamma [L.], breast. 



- Lac [L.], milk ; ferre [L.], to carry. 



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