THE STOMACH 



357 



THE STOMACH 



The stomach (Ventricuhis) is the large dilatation of the alimentary canal be- 

 tween the oesophagus and the small intestine. It is a sharply curved, U-shaped 

 sac, the right branch being, however, much shorter than the left one. The con- 

 vexity is directed ventrally. When moderately distended, there is often a slight 

 constriction which indicates the division into right and left sacs. It is relatively 

 small, and is situated in the dorsal part of the abdominal cavity behind the dia- 

 phragm and liver, mainly to the left of the median plane. 



Saccus ccECus 

 {left extremity) 



Area of attachment to dia- 

 phragm {non-peritoneal) 



Lesser curvature 

 I^ylorus 



Fig. 259. — Stomach of Horse, Visceral, Surface, with First Part of Duodenum. 

 Fixed in situ when full but not distended. The posterior gastric artery and its larger branches with two satellite 



veins are sliown. 



It presents for description two surfaces, two curvatures, and two extremities. 

 The parietal surface (Facies parietalis) is convex and is directed forw^ard, upward, 

 and toward the left ; it lies against the diaphragm and liver. The visceral surface 

 (Facies visceralis), also convex, faces in the opposite direction; it is related to the 

 terminal part of the large colon, the pancreas, the small colon, and the small in- 

 testine. The lesser curvature (Curvatura minor) is very short, extending from the 

 termination of the oesophagus to the junction with the small intestine. When 

 the stomach is in sitv, its walls are here in contact, and the cardia and pylorus 

 close together. The greater curvature (Curvatura major) is very extensive. From 

 the cardia it is first tlirected upward and curves over the left extremity; it then 

 descends, passes to the right, crosses the median plane, and curves upward to end 

 at the pylorus. Its left portion is related to the spleen, while its ventral portion 

 rests on the left divisions of the great colon. The left extremity or saccus caecus 

 is a rounded cul-de-sac which lies under the upper ends oi the fourteenth, fifteenth, 



