THE STOMACH. 



349 



THE STOMACH. 



The oesophagus, as already said, teTminates in the stomach, from 

 which the intestine leads off. 



This organ is seated in the left hypochondriac and the epigastric 

 regions, extending somewhat into the right hypochondrinm. It lies in 

 part against the anterior wall of the abdomen, and in part beneath tlie 

 liver and diaphragm, and above the transverse colon. 



In shape it is somewhat conical or pyriform. The left extremity 

 (fig, 244, f), is the larger, and is named the cardiac, great or splonie 

 end. The o-iglit or small end is also named the pjlork extremity. 

 Of its two orifices, the one by which food enters from the oesophagus 

 is named the cardiac orifice (o), the other, by which it passes into the 

 duodenum, and which is placed on a somewhat lower level, and more 

 forwards, is the pj/lori'c orifice (i)). 



The cardiac orifice is two or Fig. 244. 



three inches from the great ex- 

 tremity, which projects to the 

 left, forming the great cul-cle-sac 

 or fundus. 



Between the cardiac and the 

 pyloric orifices, the outline of the 

 stomach is curved aloug its upper 

 and lower borders. The upper 

 border, about three or four inclies 

 in length, is concave, and is 

 named the lesser curvature {h) ; 

 while the lower border, whicli 

 is much longer, and, except to- 

 wards the pylorus, convex, forms 

 the greater curvature {a). 



Towards the pylorus, the small 

 end of the stomach describes a 

 double bend, opposite to the first 

 turn of which is a prominence or 

 smrdl cul-de-sac or antrum pglori (d). 



Dimensions. — These vary greatly in diflFerent subjects, and also 

 according to the state of distension of the organ. When moderately 

 fiUed, its length is about ten or twelve inches ; and its diameter at 

 the widest part, from four to five inches. It weighs, when freed from 

 other parts, about four ounces and a half in the male, and some- 

 what less in the female (Clendinning). 



Connections. — The borders of the stomach are connected with folds 

 of peritoneum in their whole extent. Thus, the superior border is 

 connected with the under surface of the liver by a duplicature of peri- 

 toneum, the gastro-hepatic or lesser omentum, and at the left of the 

 cardia between it and the diaphragm is a small fold termed the gastro- 

 phrenic ligament ; to the inferior border is attached the great 

 omentum, beneath which is the transverse arch of the colon, while at 

 the left extremity it is connected with the spleen by a duplicature 

 of peritoneum, continuous with the left border of the great omentum, 

 and named the gastro-splenic ligament. The blood-vessels and lym- 



Fis. 



Outline of 



244. — Diagrammatic 

 THE Stomach. 



a, great curvature ; h, lesser curva- 

 ture ; c, left end, gi'eat cul-de-sac, or 

 fundus ; d, small cul-de-sac, or antrum 

 pylori ; o, oesophageal orifice or cardia ; 

 p, duodenal orifice or pylorus. 



bulging, sometimes named the 



