114 PHYSIOLOGY AT THE FARM. 



downwards ; but in the ox this falciform ligament has its di- 

 rection backwards and upwards to reach the organ which it is 

 described as suspending. There is a portion of the liver on its 

 spinal aspect which is not covered by peritoneum, but where 

 an attachment takes place by means of areolar or cellular tissue 

 between the liver and the diaphragm. This cellular portion of 

 the surface of the liver is bounded by peritoneal membrane 

 passing from the diaphragm to the liver, and that doubling of 

 peritoneum is called the coronary ligament. By these two 

 folds or duplicatures of the peritoneum namely, the falciform 

 ligament and the coronary ligament the peritoneal shut sac 

 passes upon the liver. The peritoneum again passes from the 

 liver to the stomachs in the form of duplicature, to which the 

 name omentum minus has been given. 



Beneath the serous or peritoneal covering of the liver there 

 is a fibrous coat, which is reflected into the substance of the 

 organ so as to connect together the several separate tissues 

 entering into its structure. This fibrous coat, where it is re- 

 flected inwards, receives the name of capsule of Glisson, from 

 the anatomist who first made it known. This second coat of 

 the liver, and its reflection inwards into the substance of the 

 organ, is also called the areolar coat. 



The proper substance of the liver has a reddish-brown colour 

 and mottled aspect ; it is compact, but not very firm. It breaks 

 down under pretty strong pressure with the fingers, particularly 

 when it is somewhat disorganised. Even in severe falls dur- 

 ing life the substance of the liver is sometimes rent, though 

 no other great injury has been sustained. When the torn sur- 

 face of the liver is inspected, it does not present a smooth 

 aspect, but is minutely granular, which granular appearance 

 arises from the minute lobules entering into its structure. 

 Such lobules are from half a line to nearly a line in diameter. 

 Their size is nearly that of a pin-head, polyhedral in figure, . 



