1066 THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. 
forming the ieft boundary (Fig. 724) of the uncovered area of the right lobe, and a third 
layer of the coronary ligament. 
The detailed arrangement of the peritoneum will be found on p. 10 46, with the general 
account of the peritoneal cavity. 
Ligaments.—Most of the ligaments of the liver, namely, the coronary, falciform, and 
two lateral, are formed by folds of peritoneum ; the other two, namely, the round ligament 
and the hgament of the ductus venosus, are remains of foetal bleed: vessels. 
The coronary ligament (ligamentum coronarium hepatis) consists of the folds of 
peritoneum which are reflected from the liver to the diaphragm at the margins of the un- 
covered area of the right lobe ; both its upper and lower layers are derived from the great 
sac. The name of right lateral ligament has been given, without sufficient reason, per- 
haps, to its pointed right extremity (Fig. 716). 
The left lateral ligament (ligamentum triangulare) is a considerable triangular fold, 
entirely unconnected with the coronary ligament, which is attached by one end to the 
upper or parietal surface of the left lobe near its posterior border, and by the other to the 
diaphragm, for a distance of several inches as a rule. 
Its attachment to the diaphragm les nearly altogether to the left of the asophageal orifice, 
and about # inch (18 mm.) in front of the line of this opening. Sometimes it is directed 
from the diaphragm backwards to its hepatic attachment. 
fo) 
Falciform Ligament (ligamentum falciforme hepatis).—This is also known as the broad 
and the suspensory ligament, the latter being a distinct misnomer. It is a crescentic fold 
of peritoneum, which is attached by its convex border to the under surface of the 
diaphragm, and to the anterior : abdominal wall (an inch or more to the right of the middle 
line) to within a short distance (1 to 2 inches, 2°5 to 5 em.) of the umbilicus. Its concave 
border is attached to (the superior and anterior areas of) the parietal surface of the liver ; 
below this it presents a free edge, stretching from near the umbilicus to the umbilical 
notch of the liver, and containing within it a stout fibrous cord, the round ligament. 
Near the back part of the upper aspect of the liver the two layers of which the falciform 
ligament is composed separate, and leave a triangular area of liver substance in front of the 
upper end of the vena cava uncovered by peritoneum. Traced backwards, the right layer passes 
into the upper layer of the coronary ligament, the left into that of the left lateral ligament. It 
is the remains of the ventral mesentery of the embryo, and probably has no supporting or 
suspensory action on the liver of the adult. 
The lesser or gastro-hepatic omentum (omentum minus) is a foid of peritoneum 
which extends from the liver to the lesser curvature of the stomach. Of its two layers— 
which are largely blended together in the adult—the anterior is derived from the great, 
the posterior from the small sac. 
It is attached above to the margins of the portal fissure, and also to the bottom of the 
fissure of the ductus venosus. Below, it is connected to the lesser curvature of the 
stomach, where its two layers separate to enclose that organ, and also to the upper border 
of the Stwedioamtan for an inch or more beyond the pylorus. Between its layers, close to 
its right or free border, are contained the pile duct, the hepatic artery, the portal vein, and 
the nerves and lymphatics passing to the portal fissure (Fig. 718). It is wide in the middle 
and narrow at each end. Of the two ends the right is free, and stretches from the liver 
to the duodenum, forming the anterior boundary of the foramen of Winslow. The left 
end is very narrow, and is attached to the diaphragm between the oesophageal and caval 
openings (just to the right of the reference line in Fig. 724, marked “top of small sac.” 
The portion of the omentum passing between the liver and the stomach is sometimes known 
as the hepato-gastric hgament (ligamentum hepato-gastricum), that between the liver and the 
duodenum as the he spato- catindanat hgament (ligamentum hepato-duodenale). 
The round ligament (ligamentum teres hepatis) is a stout fibrous band which passes 
from the umbilicus backwards and upwards, within the free margin of the falciform liga- 
ment, to the umbilical notch of the liver, and thence back in the umbilical fissure, to join 
the left branch of the portal vein. — It is the remains of the umbilical vein which, before 
birth, carries the arterial blood from the placenta to the body of the foetus (Fig. 717). 
The remains of the ductus venosus (ligamentum venosum Arantii) is a slender 
fibrous bundle, which passes from the left branch of the portal vein, nearly opposite the 
attachment of the round ligament, backwards in the fissure bearing its name, to be con- 
nected with the inferior vena cava as it leaves the liver. In the foetus this structure is : 
considerable vessel, which conveys some of the blood brought to the portal fissure by the 
