520 



DIGESTION. 



pared, not inappropriately, to that of the bag of a bag-pipe. It is 

 capable of holding, in the adult male, when moderately distended, 

 about three pints. The left half of the organ has always much greater 



Fig. 218. 



Stomach seen Externally. 



A, A. Anterior surface. B. Enlargement at lower part. D. Cardiac orifice. E. Commencement of 

 duodenum. F and C. Coronary vessels. H. Omentum. 



dimensions than the right. The former has been called the splenic 

 portion, because it rests upon the spleen; the latter the pyloric portion, 

 because it corresponds to the pylorus. The inferior border of the 

 stomach, which is convex, is termed the great curvature or arch; the 

 superior border, the lesser curvature or arch. The two orifices are the 

 cesophageal, cardiac, or upper orifice, formed by the termination of the 

 oesophagus; and the intestinal, pyloric or inferior orifice, which com- 

 municates with the small intestine. 



The three coats that constitute the parietes of the stomach, are ar- 

 ranged in a manner the most favourable for permitting variation in the 

 size of the organ. The outermost or peritoneal coat consists of two 

 laminae, which adhere but slightly to the organ, and extend beyond it, 

 where they form the epiploons or omenta, the extent of which is in an 

 inverse ratio to the degree of distension of the stomach. The omentum 

 majus or gastro-colic epiploon is the part that hangs down from the 

 stomach in Fig. 218. 



The mucous or lining membrane is of a whitish, marbled, red appear- 



