MUCOUS COAT. 211 



pouch. It extends obliquely over the fundus from left to 

 right, and ceases by rather a distinct line extending from the 

 left margin of the oesophagus to about the junction of the 

 middle and last third of the great curvature. This anatom- 

 ical fact is interesting, for it is at about the point where the 

 oblique layer of fibres ceases that the stomach becomes con- 

 stricted during the movements which are incident to diges- 

 tion, dividing the organ into two tolerably distinct compart- 

 ments. 



The blood-vessels of the muscular coat are quite numer- 

 ous, and are arranged in a peculiar rectangular network, 

 which they always present in the non-striated muscular tis- 

 sue. The nerves belong chiefly to the sympathetic system, 

 and are demonstrated with difficulty. 



Mucous Coat. As we pass from the oesophagus to the 

 stomach, a very marked change takes place in the character 

 of the mucous membrane.- The white, hard appearance of 

 the oesophageal lining, due to its covering of pavement epi- 

 thelium, abruptly ceases, presenting a sharply defined, den- 

 tated border ; and the membrane of the stomach is soft, 

 velvety in appearance, and of a reddish-gray color. In some 

 of the inferior animals, as the horse, the characteristic mem- 

 brane of the oesophagus is prolonged into the stomach and 

 forms a large white zone around the cardiac opening, with ab- 

 ruptly defined edges, contrasting strongly with the rest of the 

 lining membrane of the stomach. 



The mucous lining of the stomach is loosely attached to 

 the submucous muscular tissue, and is thrown into large 

 longitudinal folds, which become effaced as the organ is dis- 

 tended. When the muscular coat of the stomach is in a con- 

 dition of cadaveric rigidity, the longitudinal folding of the 

 mucous membrane is very marked. If the mucous mem- 

 brane be stretched, or if the stomach be everted and dis- 

 tended, and the mucus, which always exists in greater or less 

 abundance over the surface, be gently removed under a 



