94 TOPOGRAPHICAL ANATOMY OF THE 



f Stomach. 

 I Small intestine. 

 Alimentary organs. -' Lar<;e intestine. 

 I Liver. 

 1^ Pancreas. 



f Kidneys. 

 Urinary organs. -{ Ureters (greater part). 



(^Bladder (when distended). 



f Deferent ducts (part of) in the male. 

 Reproductive organs. ■{ Ovaries, uterine tubes of Fallopius, and uterus 

 l^ (greater part) in the female. 



Spleen. 



Adrenal glands. 



Arteries. The abdominal aorta and its various branches. 



Veins. The caudal vena cava and its tributaries, the portal vein and its 



tributaries, and the commencement of the vena azygos. 

 Lymph glands and lymphatic vessels, including the cisterna chyli and the 



commencement of the thoracic duct. 

 The abdominal part of the sympatlietic nervous system and the termination 



of the two vagus nerves. 

 The peritoneum, which forms a lining lor the cavity and an investment for 



the organs contained therein. 



Since the knowledge is of the first importance to the clinician, the 

 topography of the abdominal organs, and their relation to the surface of 

 the body, should be studied with care ; but it must be borne in mind 

 that the exact relations of the organs are very variable, not only in 

 different animals, but also in the same animal at different times. The 

 posture of the body, the amount of distension of the hollow viscera, and 

 the movements of inspiration and expiration, have all their influence. 

 In the female there must also be added the effect of pregnancy. 



Unlike other domestic animals, the horse possesses an inextensive 

 omentuvi (omentum majus) which does not overlie the intestinal mass. 

 Consequently, when the abdomen is first opened in the manner above 

 described, certain parts of the intestines are at once revealed. Placed in 

 and about the middle line is the ccecuni. In shape this is a long cone, 

 with a base at the pelvic iulet to the right of the middle line of the 

 body. The long axis of the cone is slightly oblique ; consequently the 

 blind apex, directed towards the diaphragm, may be a little to the left 

 of the middle line. 



Other very obvious parts of the intestines are the right and left 

 segments of the great colon. If the dissector examine the large gut 

 in the right flank, he will observe that the broad base of the cjEcum 

 is connected with the right ventyxd colon. From this point the colon 

 runs in a cranial direction towards the diaphragm, and then bends upon 

 itself — at the ventral cliaphragmatic flexure — to become the left 

 ventral colon. If this be followed to the pelvic entrance, a short dorsal 

 bend (the pelvic flexure), to the right of the middle line, will be 

 ■detected. Thereon follow the left dorsal colon, the dorsal dia- 



