THE ABDOMEN 755 



The ovarian arteries (V), in the female, take the place of the 

 spermatic arteries in the male, and their com-se and relations in the 

 abdomen correspond with those of the spermatics. The ovarian 

 arteries are, however, shorter than the spermatics, and they do not 

 pass out through the inguinal canal, but enter the pelvis by crossing 

 the commencement of the external iliac artery. In the pelvis each 

 vessel becomes very tortuous, and passes between the two layers 

 of the broad ligament of the uterus to be distributed to the ovary. 

 In the abdomen the artery supplies branches to the ureter, and in 

 the pelvis it furnishes the following offsets : tnhal to the Fallopian 

 tube ; a uterine branch to the side of the uterus ; and a ligaynentous 

 branch to the round ligament of the uterus, which it accompanies 

 as far as the inguinal canal. The ovarian arteries, like the spermatic, 

 are very short and transverse in direction during foetal life, when 

 the ovary occupies a position similar to that of the testis. They, 

 however, gradually become elongated as the ovary descends to its 

 future abode in the pelvis. 



The ovarian veins spring from the ovarian or pampiniform plexus 

 between the two layers of the broad ligament, close to the ovary. 

 After emerging therefrom their subsequent course and mode of 

 termination resemble those of the spermatic veins. . . 



For the inferior mesenteric artery (V) and vein, see p. 729 ; for 

 the middle sacral artery (P) and vein, see p. 86i ; and for the 

 lumbar arteries (P) and veins, see p. 772. 



Inferior Vena Cava. — The inferior vena cava commences opposite 

 the upper border of the body of the fifth lumbar vertebra 

 a little to the right of the middle line, where it is formed 

 by the union of the right and left common iliac veins, and 

 it terminates at the postero-inferior angle of the right auricle 

 of the heart. It ascends along the right side of the aorta, 

 resting upon the anterior and right aspects of the lumbar yertebrse 

 as high as the level of the second. Beyond this point it" diverges 

 from the aorta, and is supported by the right cms of the diaphragm. 

 It then occupies the caval fossa on the posterior surface of the 

 right lobe of the liver. On leaving this fossa it passes through 

 the caval opening in the central tendon of the diaphragm, and, 

 almost immediately thereafter, it opens into the postero-inferior 

 angle of the right auricle of the heart. As the vein passes 

 through the caval opening its walls are connected with the 

 margins of that opening, and so the patency of the vessel is 

 maintained. 



Relations — Anterior. — From below upwards, the right common 

 iliac artery, lower part of the root of the mesentery proper, right 

 spermatic (or ovarian) vessels, third part of the duodenum, head 

 of the pancreas, origin of the vena portae, first part of the 

 duodenum, foramen of Winslow, and posterior surface of the liver. 

 Posterior. — ^The bodies, discs, and anterior common ligament of 

 the lower thiee lumbar vertebrae, the corresponding right lumbar 

 vessels, inner border of the right psoas magnus and its sheath, 



