THE PERITONEUM 



381 



ated in the left part of the great omentiini; on this basis the gastro-splenic omentum 

 would be that part of the great omentum which connects the hilus of the spleen 

 with the great curvature of the stomach. The great omentum is relatively small 

 in the horse, and is usually not visible when the abdomen is opened. It is generally 

 folded up in the space between the visceral surface of the stomach and the intestine.' 



The lesser sac furnishes the peritoneal covering for: (1) the visceral surface of the stomach 

 anfl a small area of the first curve of the duodenum; (2) a large part of the dorsal surface of the 

 pancreas and portal vein; (3) a small part of the visceral surface of the liver above the attachment 

 of the lesser omentum and the portal fossa; (4) the posterior vena cava, from the level of the epi- 

 ploic foramen [of Winslow] to its passage through the diaphragm (in so far as it is not embedded) ; 

 (5) the part of the parietal surface of the liver between the right and middle divisions of the cor- 

 onary ligament; (6) the corresponding part of the diaphragm, and the right part of the right crus 

 of the same; (7) part of the anterior surface 

 of the terminal part of the great colon, and 

 the origin of the small colon; (8) the left ex- 

 tremity of the pancreas (inconstant); (9) the 

 spleen. 



We may now trace the peritoneum 

 in a longitudinal direction, beginning 

 in front. It is reflected from the ven- 

 tral abdominal wall and the diaphragm 

 upon the liver, forming the ligaments 

 and serous coat of the gland. It leaves 

 the visceral surface of the liver as lesser 

 omentum, and the crura of the dia- 

 phragm as the gastrophrenic ligament, 

 reaches the saccus csecus and lesser 

 curvature of the stomach and the first 

 curve of the duodenum, covers these 

 organs, and is continued by the great 

 omentimi. 



On the left it passes from the left 

 crus of the diaphragm and the left 

 kidney to form the suspensory liga- 

 ment of the spleen, clothes that organ, 

 and leaves it to be contiiuied by the 

 great omentum. 



On the right it passes from the 

 right crus of the diaphragm and the 

 dorsal border of the liver to the 

 concave border- of the duodenum, 

 forming the gastro-pancreatic fold 

 (second part of the mesoduodenum), 

 and covering part of the dorsal sur- 

 face of the pancreas. From the margin of the pancreas, the right kidney, and a 

 small area of the sublumbar region behind the latter, it passes on to the base of 

 the caecum and the terminal part of the great colon. From these it passes on the 

 right to the duodenum, forming the third part of the mesoduodenum. On the 

 left it clothes part of the ventral surface and the outer border of the left kidney, from 

 which it passes to the base of the spleen, forming the ventral layer of the suspen- 

 sory ligament of the latter. Behind the terminal part of the great colon it is reflected 

 around the great mesenteric artery to form the great mesentery. Behind this it 

 is reflected almost transversely from the roof of the cavity and from the origin of 

 the small colon on to the duodenum, forming the terminal part of the mesoduo- 



1 In dissecting-room subjects (which are usually aged) the omentum often exhibits patho- 

 logical changes, such as adhesions, rents, tumors, formation of twisted strands, etc. 



Fig. 279. — Diagr.\m of Abdominal Peritoneum ix 

 Frontal (Horizontal) Tracing. 

 D, Duodenum. The arrow indicates the epiploic 

 foramen (of Win.slow). By an oversight the leader line 

 to the great omentum is omitted, and the coronary liga- 

 ment of the liver is erroneously marked lesser omentum; 

 the latter e.xtends from liver to stomach, but is not 

 marked. 



