1743 



HUMAN ANATOMY. 



curvature of the stomach, where it is continuous on the left with the double layer 

 coming from the spleen and on the right with that coming from the inferior sur- 

 face of the first part of the duodenum ; from this broad origin the greater omentum 

 hangs down over the intestines to near the pubes, where it turns upon itself and 

 ascends posteriorly. Often it does not descend so far, but may be folded upon 

 itself to almost any degree and in almost any position. For purposes of description 

 it is supposed to lie spread out smoothly, and to consist of an anterior and a pos- 



FIG. 1474. 



Ensiform cartilage 



LiverI 



Gall-bladder 



Ascending colon 



Caecum 



-Descending colon 



Siginoid flexure 



I'tnlistuiiir.l abdominal visn-ra of formalin subject ; liver and stomach abnormally lar^e, hence the exaggerated 



appaienl ti ,ius\ rt s<- position of stomach. 



terior fold (Fig. 1467). The former passes down over the transverse colon, but with- 

 out adhering to it. The peritoneum on its anterior surface faces forward into the 

 greater peritoneal cavity, while that on its posterior surface looks into the lesser one. 

 On turning backward upon itself, it runs up to the transverse colon. If this were 

 litiT.illv true, it is evident that the lesser cavity would extend from behind the stomach 

 over the colon down into this fold (rcccssus inferior omcntalis) of the greater omen- 

 tum, and in fact this is actually the case in the foetus (Fig. 1439) and exceptionally 



