1000 THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. 
the posterior abdominal wall, and convey to them their vessels and nerves. There 
are several mesenteries, ¢.g., the 
mesentery proper, Which connects the 
jejunum and ileum to the posterior 
abdominal wall, the transverse meso- 
colon, the pelvic (or “ sigmoid”) 
mesocolon, and occasionally others. 
(¢) Ligaments are peritoneal folds 
which pass between abdominal 
viscera other than portions of the 
digestive tube, or connect them to 
the abdominal wall. As examples of 
these may be mentioned most of the 
ligaments of the liver, the so-called 
“false ligaments” of the bladder, and 
the broad ligaments of the uterus. 
Fundus~ 
Cardia 
Lesser 
curvature 
Superior or 
parietal surface 
ff 
[ 
Pylorus Hy 
Antrum pylori Great Curvature 
Greats =e. 
omentum (cut) 
This term is also applied to several 
small folds which connect portions of 
the intestinal tube to the parietes, but 
do not convey to them their vessels 
and nerves. ‘The gastro-phrenie and 
phreno-colic ligaments are examples of 
these. 
Cardia — 
Gastro-phrenic 
ligament | 
Gastro-splenic 
omentum (cut) 
Uncovered area ———\ 
Superior or___ \ 
parietal surface 
THE STOMACH. 
The stomach (ventriculus) is the 
large dilatation found on the diges- 
tive tube immediately after it enters 
the abdomen (Figs. 674and 675). It 
constitutes a receptacle, i which the 
food accumulates after its passage 
through the cesophagus, and in it 
take place some of the earlier pro- 
cesses of digestion, resulting im the 
conversion of the food into a viscid 
soup-like mixture, known as chyme. 
The chyme as it is formed is allowed 
to escape intermittently through the 
pylorus, into the small intestine, 
where the digestive processes are 
continued. 
Although the form of the stomach 
varies considerably under different 
conditions, in general it is of an 
irregularly pyriform shape, with a 
wide or cardiac end directed back- 
wards and to the left, and a narrow 
pyloric end which runs to the right 
to join the duodenum. — In addition 
to (a) its two ends, the stomach pre- 
sents for examination the following 
parts: (b) two curvatures, greater 
and lesser, separating (¢) two surfaces, 
Inferior or 
visceral surface 
Lesser__ 
omentum (cut) 
Pylorus 
Superior or 
parietal surface 
Great 
omentum (cut) 
Inferior or 
visceral surface 
Fic. 674.—MopERATELY DISTENDED STOMACH, viewed, A, 
from front: B, from inner or right side; and C, from 
the outer left side. (From photographs of the 
stomach shown in Figs. 670 and 675. The contents of the 
stomach were carefully removed through an artificial 
opening, and replaced with gelatine, the stomach remain- 
ing im situ throughout the operation. After the jelly 
or 
hardened, its exact orientation was carefully noted, and 
pins indicating the vertical, horizontal, and transverse 
planes, having been inserted, the organ was removed 
and photographed. ) 
superior and inferior; and (d) two 
orifices, the cesophageal orifice or 
cardia, and the pyloric orifice or 
pylorus (Fig. 674). 
Position and Form of the Stomach.— When empty, or nearly so, the stomach 
hes in the left hypochondrium and left part of the epigastrium, with its wide end 
