742 ORGANS OF DIGESTION. 



from pressure of the ribs. Again, its position varies greatly, according to the greater or less 

 distension of the stomach and intestines. When the intestines are empty, the liver descends in 

 the abdomen ; but when they are distended, it is pushed upwards. Its relations to surrounding 

 organs may also be changed by the growth of tumors, or by collections of fluid in the thoracic 

 or abdominal cavities. 



Ligaments. The ligaments of the liver (Fig. 407) are five in number ; four 

 being formed of folds of peritoneum ; the fifth, the lie/amentum teres, is a round, 

 fibrous cord, resulting from the obliteration of the umbilical vein. The liga- 

 ments are the longitudinal, two lateral, coronary, and round. 



The longitudinal ligament (broad, falciform, or suspensory ligament) is a broad 

 and thin antero-posterio'r peritoneal fold, falciform in shape, its base being di- 

 rected forwards, its apex backwards. It is attached by one margin to the under 

 surface of the Diaphragm, and the posterior surface of the sheath of the right 

 Eectus muscle as low down as the umbilicus ; by its hepatic margin, it extends 

 from the notch on the anterior margin of the liver, as far back as its posterior 

 border. It consists of two layers of peritoneum closely united together. Its 

 anterior free edge contains the round ligament between its layers. 



Fi?. 407. The Liver. Upper Surface. 



The lateral ligaments, two in number, right and left, are triangular in shape. 

 They are formed of two layers of peritoneum united, and extend from the sides 

 of the Diaphragm to the adjacent margins of the posterior border of the liver 

 The left is the longer of the two, and lies in front of the cesophageal opening 

 in the Diaphragm. 



The coronary ligament connects the posterior border of the liver to the 

 Diaphragm. It is formed by the reflection of the peritoneum from the Dia- 

 phragm on to the upper and lower margins of the posterior border of the organ. 

 The coronary ligament consists of two layers, which are continuous on each side 

 with the lateral ligaments; and in front, with the longitudinal ligament. Between 

 the layers, a large oval interspace is left uncovered by peritoneum, .and con- 

 nected to the Diaphragm by a firm areolar tissue. This space is subdivided, 

 near its left extremity, into two parts by a deep notch (sometimes a canal), which 

 lodges the inferior vena cava, and into which opens the hepatic veins. 



The round ligament (Fig. 408) is a fibrous cord resulting from the obliteration 

 of the umbilical vein. It ascends from the umbilicus, in the anterior free 

 margin of the longitudinal ligament, to the notch in the anterior border of the 

 liver, from which it may be traced along the longitudinal fissure on the under 

 surface of the liver, as far back as the inferior vena cava. 



