SOME POINTS IN THE ANATOMY OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. 47 



cally closed, and from the duodenal side resembles the os iiterL 

 But both in the empty and the distended state, the pylorus 

 seems to be a tubular narrowing, extending over half an inch to 

 an inch of the canal, rather than an abrupt constriction. On 

 section, it will also be remarked that the muscular thickening 

 which produces the valve is gradual in its development when 

 traced from the gastric side, but that it ends abruptly as the 

 duodenum is reached. 



When the stomach is empty the pylorus lies about 2 inches 

 below, 1| inches to the right, and the same distance in front 

 of the cardia ; in the distended condition its position is about 

 2^ or 3 inches below, 2 to 2i- inches to the right, and 2 inches 

 in front of the cardia. 



I have never seen a really patent pylorus in a hardened body, 

 with either an empty or a distended stomach, which leads me 

 to think that in its ordinary condition the pylorus is naturally 

 closed, and that the opening of the orifice (like that of the anus) 

 is an active process. 



The ' uncovered area,' that is to say, the small triangular 

 surface of the stomach which is free from peritoneum, is situated 

 on the inferior (or posterior) surface, below and to the left of the 

 cardia. It is irregularly triangular in shape, and measures 

 about 2 inches in width and 1|- inches from above downwards. 

 From its left angle the attachment of the great omentum 

 (gastro-splenic part) starts ; and at its right angle the coronary 

 artery reaches the stomach. 



Small Intestine. 



Often patches of valvule conniventes, much reduced in size, can 

 be traced to within a short distance of the ileo-ctccal valve. 

 According to Sappey, Luschka, and others, they usually reach 

 to within two or three feet of the large intestine. 



When the surface of the Peyer's patch from a child's intestine 

 (in which these structures are particularly well developed) is 

 carefully examined, it is seen to be made up not of a series of 

 separate rounded nodules grouped together, but rather of a 

 number of wavy, irregular, and branching ridges, connected with 

 one another by cross branches, the whole recalling in miniature 



