s. 
a e THE COLON. 1033 
The state of the peritoneal covering on the back of the first part of the transverse colon 
would seem to depend, in some degree, on the extent to which the liver passes downwards on 
the right side. With a small high liver no mesentery is present, and the posterior surface is 
devoid of peritoneum ; on the other hand, when the liver is enlarged in the vertical direction, 
it pushes the colon downwards before it, and brings the upper line of the peritoneal reflection 
from its back, into contact with the lower, thus giving rise to the mesentery. In the foetus of 
three or four months every part of the colon is supplied with a long mesentery ; subsequently 
this, as a rule, disappears at the beginning of the transverse colon, but it may be reproduced in 
the manner stated. 
Splenic Flexure (flexura coli sinistra)—The terminal portion of the trans- 
verse colon runs upwards (also backwards and to the left) until the lower end or 
base of the spleen is reached; here it bends sharply, forming the splenic flexure, 
{ 
Tiver—__ | \ | _—— Stomach 
BY, Spleen (anterior basal 
j wi. 
Splenic flexure 
Attachment of 
faleiform ligament 
Transverse mesocolon, 
-with stomach resting 
on it 
Tenth rib—__1 
Gall-bladder 
Terminal part of 
duodenum 
Hepatic vl i 
Third part of 
duodenum Descending colon 
Root of mesentery (cut) 
Apex of vermiform 
appendix 
ppe Pelvic (sigmoid) 
; : mesocolon 
Terminal part of ileum 
. We ‘ Z : . A 
Cxeeum-(\ : A Pelvic colon (sigmoid 
: } flexure) 
G 
4 
0 1 Zz 3 4 0 5 10 4 
by | 1 ! n 
4 SCALE IN INCHES SCALE IN CENTIMETRES 
Bladder 
Fic. 699. THE ABDOMINAL VISCERA AFTER THE REMOVAL OF THE JEJUNUM AND ILEUM (from a photograph 
of the same body as depicted in Fig. 670). The transverse colon is much more regular than usual. 
Both the liver and cecum extend lower down than normal. The subdivisions of the abdominal cavity 
are indicated by dark lines. 
and runs down into the descending colon. ‘The flexure is placed deeply in the left 
hypochondrium, behind the stomach, and in contact with the base of the spleen. 
It les at a higher level than the hepatic flexure, and is connected to the 
abdominal parietes by the phreno-colic ligament, which helps to maintain it in 
this position. 
Phreno-colic or Costo-colic Ligament (ligamentum phrenocolicum, Fig. 688).— 
This is a triangular fold of peritoneum, with a free anterior border, which is 
attached internally to the splenic flexure and externally to the diaphragm opposite 
the eleventh rib. Owing to the fact that the base of the spleen rests upon it, the 
hgament has also received the name of sustentaculum lienis. 
The phreno-colic ligament is formed in the foetus from the left margin of the great omentum 
(Jonnesco and Fig. 688). 
) The peritoneal covering of the splenic flexure is similar to that of the descending colon. 
