750 A MANUAL OF ANATOMY 



terior surface of the right lobe of the liver. At its upper and inner 

 part there is a small fissure, called the hilum, through which the 

 right suprarenal vein emerges. The peritoneum gives a partial 

 covering to this surface at its lower part. The posterior surface 

 is in contact with the diaphragm and the upper part of the anterior 

 surface of the right kidney. The right semilunar ganglion lies on 

 the inner side of the right capsule. 



The left capsule is somewhat semilunar. The anterior surface 

 is related above to the postero-inferior surface of the stomach, with 

 the intervention of the small sac, which furnishes it with a peritoneal 

 covering. Below this it is related to the posterior surface of the 

 body of the pancreas and the splenic vessels, without peritoneum. 

 The hilum, through which the left suprarenal vein emerges, is 

 situated at the lower and inner part of this surface. The posterior 

 surface at its upper part is in contact with the left crus of the 

 diaphragm, and, below, it rests upon the upper and inner part of the 

 front of the left kidney, as well as upon its internal border. 



For the structure and development of the suprarenal capsule 

 see Index. 



Abdominal Aorta. — The abdominal aorta commences at the aortic 

 opening of the diaphragm on a level with the lower border of the body 

 of the twelfth thoracic vertebra, where it lies in the middle line, and 

 it usually terminates opposite the centre of the body of the fourth 

 lumbar vertebra, a finger's breadth to the left of the middle line, by 

 dividing into the right and left common iliac arteries. The position 

 of the bifurcation may be indicated in one of two ways, as follows : 

 (i) by taking a point fully i inch below the umbilicus and a finger's 

 breadth to the left of the linea alba ; or (2) by taking a point in 

 the line which connects the highest parts of the iliac crests a finger's 

 breadth to the left of where it intersects the linea alba. The 

 bifurcation may take place a little lower down or higher up than 

 the normal level. The length of the vessel is about 5 inches. 

 It occupies the epigastric and umbilical regions, where it lies very 

 deeply behind the peritoneum, and its direction is downwards with 

 a slight inclination to the left. 



Relations — Anterior. — ^The direct anterior relations, from above 

 downwards, are as follows : the origins of the inferior phrenic 

 arteries, the coeliac axis, coeliac glands, and solar plexus, the ascend- 

 ing layer of the transverse meso-colon, the pancreas and splenic 

 vein, the root of the superior mesenteric artery, the third part of 

 the duodenum and left renal vein, the origins of the spermatic (01 

 ovarian) arteries, the aortic plexus, the median group of lumbar 

 glands, the peritoneum of the general cavity, and the origin of the 

 inferior mesenteric artery. The more remote anterior relations 

 are the gastro - hepatic omentum, stomach, transverse colon 

 with its meso-colon, coils of the small intestine, root of the 

 mesentery proper, and gastro-colic omentum. Posterior. — ^The 

 disc between the twelfth thoracic and first lumbar, vertebnu, 

 the bodies and discs of the upper four lumbar vertebra}, and 



