1155 



it encloses the cecum and vermiform process, and is reflected over the sides and front 

 of the ascending colon; it may then be traced over the duodenum, Psoas major, 

 and inferior vena cava toward the middle line, whence it passes along the mesen- 

 teric vessels to invest the small intestine, and back again to the large vessels in 

 front of the vertebral column, forming the mesentery, between the layers of which 

 are contained the mesenteric bloodvessels, lacteals, and glands. It is then con- 

 tinued over the left Psoas; it covers the sides and front of the descending colon, 

 and, reaching the abdominal wall, is carried on it to the middle line. 



Lesser amentum 



Falciform ligament of liver 



Hepatic artery 

 bile duct, and 

 portal vein 



Epiploic 

 foramen 



Inferior 

 vena cava 



Aorta 

 FIG. 1039. Horizontal disposition of the peritoneum in the upper part of the abdomen. 



(3) In the Upper Abdomen (Fig. 1039). Above the transverse colon the omental 

 bursa is superadded to the general sac, and the communication of the two cavities 

 with one another through the epiploic foramen can be demonstrated. 



(a) Main Cavity. Commencing on the posterior abdominal wall at the inferior 

 vena cava, the peritoneum may be followed to the right over the front of the 

 suprarenal gland and upper part of the right kidney on to the antero-lateral 

 abdominal wall. From the middle line of the anterior wall a backwardly directed 

 fold encircles the obliterated umbilical vein and forms the falciform ligament 

 of the liver. Continuing to the left, the peritoneum lines the antero-lateral 

 abdominal wall and covers the lateral part of the front of the left kidney, and is 

 reflected to the posterior border of the hilus of the spleen as the posterior layer 

 of the phrenicolienal ligament. It can then be traced around the surface of the spleen 

 to the front of the hilus, and thence to the cardiac end of the greater curvature 

 of the stomach as the anterior layer of the gastrolienal ligament. It covers the 

 antero-superior surfaces of the stomach and commencement of the duodenum, 

 and extends up from the lesser curvature of the stomach to the liver as the anterior 

 layer of the lesser omentum. 



(6) Omental Bursa (bursa omentalis; lesser peritoneal sac). On the posterior 

 abdominal w r all the peritoneum of the general cavity is continuous with that of 

 the omental bursa in front of the inferior vena cava. Starting from here, the 

 bursa may be traced across the aorta and over the medial part of the front of 

 the left kidney and diaphragm to the hilus of the spleen as the anterior layer 

 of the phrenicolienal ligament. From the spleen it is reflected to the stomach as 



