THE SUPRARENAL GLANDS 



1279 



contact with the upper end and the adjacent part of the anterior surface of the 

 kidney. 



The left suprarenal, slightly larger than the right, is crescentic in shape, its con- 

 cavity being adapted to the medial border of the upper part of the left kidney. 

 It presents a medial border, which is convex, and a lateral, which is concave; its 

 upper end is narrow, and its lower rounded. Its anterior surface has two areas: an 



Suprarenal vein 



Hepatic area 



Area in con- 

 tact with in- 

 ferior vena 

 cavn 



Gastric area 



Pancreatic area 



RIGHT. 



Suprarenal vein 



LEFT. 



Fio. 1183. Suprarenal glands viewed from the front. 



upper one, covered by the peritoneum of the omental bursa, which separates it 

 from the cardiac end of the stomach, and sometimes from the superior extremity 

 of the spleen; and a lower one, which is in contact with the pancreas and lienal 

 artery, and is therefore not covered by the peritoneum. On the anterior surface, 

 near its lower end, is a furrow or hilum, directed downward and forward, from which 

 the suprarenal vein emerges. Its posterior surface presents a vertical ridge, which 

 divides it into two areas; the lateral area rests on the kidney, the medial and smalle*" 

 on the left eras of the diaphragm. 



Diaphrag- 

 matic area 



Renal area 



Diaphragmatic 

 area 



Renal area 



Suprarenal 

 vein 



RIGHT. 



LEFT. 



Fid. 1184. Suprarenal glands viewed from behind. 



The surface of the suprarenal gland is surrounded by areolar tissue containing- 

 much fat, and closely invested by a thin fibrous capsule, which is difficult to remove 

 on account of the numerous fibrous processes and vessels entering the organ through 

 the furrows on its anterior surface and base. 



Small accessory suprarenals (glandules suprarenales accessories) are often to be 

 found in the connective tissue around the suprarenals. The smaller of these, on 

 section, show a uniform surface, but in some of the larger a distinct medulla can be 

 made out. 



Structure. On section, the suprarenal gland is seen to consist of two portions (Fig. 1185): 

 an external or cortical and an internal or medullary. The former constitutes the chief part of 

 the organ, and is of a deep yellow color; the medullary substance is soft, pulpy, and of a dark red 

 or brown color. 



