so8 , Omentum. [Book IJG 



-with a large quantity of fat. It is varioufly attached 

 to feveralof the vifceraof the abdomen. The fuperior 

 portion of it is divided into two borders, one of which 

 is fixed to the arch of the colon, the other along the 

 great curvature of the ftomach. Below this it is loofe, 

 and is placed between the inteftines and the > anterior 

 part of the peritoneum^ Befides this large membra- 

 nous covering, called the great omentum, there is a much 

 fmaller membrane of the fame kind, which is called 

 the little omentum. It is fixed by its whole circum- 

 ference partly to the fmall curvature of the flomach,- 

 and partly to the concave fide of the liver. The little 

 omentum is thinner and more tranfparent than the 

 other, but its ftruclure is much the fame, and it is in 

 fad a continuation of the larger* 



The omentum in man deicends as far as the navel, 

 in quadrupeds much lower. The reafon for this dif- 

 ference feems to be, that from the ereft pofture of man, 

 the oily matter exuded from the omentum muft fall 

 downwards to lubricate the inteftines, which are placed 

 flill lower ; this, however, cannot happen in quadru- 

 peds, which have the trunk of the body in a horizontal 

 ficuation, and therefore fland in need of a longer om? n- 

 rum ; but as the ufe of the omentum is not fully afcer- 

 tained, this explanation is perhaps imaginary. 



