120 Anatomy of the Rabbit. 



IV. THE LIVER. 



The liver (hepar) is noteworthy, first, as being the largest of the 

 glandular structures of the body, and, secondly, as containing, in ad- 

 dition to the primary circulation formed by the hepatic artery and 

 veins, the ramifications of the portal system. It is an appendage of the 

 digestive tube, its connection with the latter being through the common 

 bile duct. 



1. Examine the general contour and plan of division as follows: 



(a) The convex anterior surface, applied to the diaphragm; 

 the concave posterior surface fitting the convexity of the 

 stomach ; the thickened dorsal portion of the organ, and its 

 thin posteroventral margin. 



(b) The division of the organ into right and left lobes, and of each 

 lobe into anterior and posterior lobules. 



(c) The gall bladder (vesica fellea), situated on the posterior 

 surface of the right anterior lobule. 



(d) The quadrate lobe (lobus quadratus), an imperfectly de- 

 veloped lobe lying to the medial side of the gall bladder. 



(e) The caudate lobe (lobus caudatus), a small independent lobe 

 projecting backward from the base of the left posterior 

 lobule, and accommodated in the natural condition in the 

 space enclosed by the lesser curvature of the stomach. 



2. Trace the peritoneal connections as follows: 



(a) The lesser omentum, represented by the hepatoduodenal 

 ligament. 



(b) The falciform ligament (lig. falciforme hepatis), a broad 

 median sheet connecting the anterior surface of the liver 

 with the diaphragm and extending backward to the ventral 

 abdominal wall. The position of this ligament indicates the 

 line of division of the liver into right and left lobes. The 

 free arcuate border of the ligament contains a thin cord, the 

 round ligament (lig. teres hepatis), which marks the position 

 of the umbilical vein in the foetus. 



(c) The coronary ligament (lig. coronarium hepatis), a short 

 circular fold, continuous with the falciform, and connecting 

 the anterior surface of the liver with the middle of the 

 diaphragm. 



(d) The left triangular ligament (lig. triangulare sinistrum), a 

 lateral continuation of the coronary connecting the left lobe 

 with the diaphragm. 



3. Trace the branches of the common bile duct, the hepatic artery 

 and the portal vein. These structures traverse the lesser omentum 

 side by side and their branches are similarly arranged. 



