SPLANCHNOLOGY. 193 



the hypogastric below ; and then, by drawing a vertical line on each side, 

 from the extremity of the eighth or ninth rib to the centre of Poupart's liga- 

 ment, or a little external to it, we shall subdivide each of these regions into 

 three parts: the three divisions of the epigastric region are the ejjigastrknn^ 

 or scrobiculus cordis, in the centre, and the right and left hypodiondriac 

 regions^ on either side. The epigastrium is immediately below the ensiform 

 cartilage, and the hypochondriac regions are covered by the false ribs ; the 

 lateral portions of the umbilical division are the lumbar regions ; the middle 

 of the hypogastric region is the hypogastrium ; and the lateral portions are 

 the iliac regions. The lower part of the hypogastrium is called by some the- 

 pubic region^ and the lower part of each iliac division is called inguinal 

 region^ or more properly spermatic (the term inguinal being commonly 

 applied to the upper and anterior part of the thigh), and contains the iliac 

 vessels, and in the male the spermatic cord, and in the female the round 

 ligament of the uterus. These divisions are somewhat arbitrary, there 

 being no natural or fixed boundaries to these several compartments. 



1. The Stomach. The stomach is the most dilated portion of the alimen- 

 tary canal, its capacity, however, being very variable. It is placed between 

 the oesophagus and the duodenum, continuous with both, and is held in its 

 place in the abdomen by the omentum and oesophagus. When distended, 

 the stomach exhibits a somewhat conical figure, the base to the left side, the 

 apex to the right, the intermediate portions being somewhat curved. It 

 then presents two extremities, the left and the right ; two orifices, the car- 

 diac and pyloric ; two surfaces, an anterior and a posterior ; and two edges, 

 the lesser or concave, and the greater or convex. The left^ or splenit 

 extremity^ is very large ; the right, or pyloric.^ is much smaller, being cylin- 

 drical and convoluted like an intestine, and is distinguished from the duode- 

 num by the circular contraction of the pylorus, to the left of which the 

 stomach is often found dilated towards the convex border, into a little sinus 

 called antrum pylori. The cai'diac oesophageal orifice is the highest point 

 of the stomach, and is connected to the diaphragm by the peritonaeum. The 

 pyloric orifice is between the stomach and the duodenum. It lies to the 

 right side of the spine, and is usually in contact with the liver and gall 

 bladder. The anterior surface of the stomach is below the xiphoid carti- 

 lage, looking upwards and forwards. The jws^erw?- surface looks back- 

 wards and downwards, forming the front of the bag of the omentum. The 

 lesser., or concave edge., looks backwards and upwards towards the spine!. 

 The greater.^ or convex edge., looks forwards and downwards towards the 

 colon. 



The stomach is composed of three proper tissues : a serous, a muscular, 

 and a mucous. These are connected together by laminae of cellular meni' 

 brane. The serous or peritonceal coat is derived from the lamina of the 

 lesser omentum, separating at the lesser curvature, and uniting along the 

 convex edge to form the great omentum. It does not adhere throughout, 

 but leaves spaces, allowing the distension of the stomach and the passage of 

 blood-vessels. The muscidar coat consists of three layers ; the first, or super- 

 ficial, is longitudinal, continued from the longitudinal fibres of the oesopha- 



890 



