THE ABDOMEN. 223 



tlie duodenum whicli it connects to tlie porta of the liver, 

 and from the anterior extremity of the bowel is continued 

 one layer over the ant ero -inferior surface of the stomach. 

 After tracing the peritoneum thus far from behind we 

 may commence to examine it anteriorly. Passing forwards 

 from the umbilicus on the floor of the abdomen it forms 

 centrally a longitudinal fold which runs from behind 

 forwards, extending farther back in young subjects than 

 in old ; this is one of the ligaments of the liver, falciform 

 or suspensory ligament. It runs on to the posterior surface 

 of the diaphragm and extends as far as foramen dextrum ; 

 on its free margin, enclosed between the two layers, is an im- 

 pervious fibrous cord, round ligament, which is the dege- 

 nerated umbilical vein of the foetus by which the blood is 

 carried from the umbilicus to the liver. It is this liga- 

 ment which is sometimes inquired after as being " the 

 only ligament of the liver not formed by peritoneum." 

 The layers of serous membrane forming the falciform 

 ligament separate superiorly and in surrounding the j)os- 

 terior vena cava in its course from the liver to the foramen 

 dextrum form the coronary ligament. The peritoneum 

 then forms the right lateral ligament, running from the 

 superior margin of the right lobe of the liver ; this liga- 

 ment is broad and wide, and on its posterior surface we 

 may see a small special ligament passing to the lohuhis 

 Spigelii; its posterior layer is reflected from the roof of 

 the abdominal cavity at the right kidney. A correspond- 

 ing ligament, but longer and narrower, runs from the pos- 

 terior surface of the left side of the diaphragm to the left 

 extremity of the superior margin of the liver, which is the 

 left lateral ligament. After investing the liver the serous 

 membrane forms the gastric liejmtic omentum which runs 

 from the transverse fissure of the liver to the lesser cur- 

 vature of the stomach and to the attachment of the duo- 

 denum to the spine ; between its layers run the hepatic and 

 pancreatic ducts. The stomach will be found to be enclosed 

 in a sac, which, in consequence of the fatty matter between 

 its layers arranged around its vessels, is apparently reti- 

 culated. This is the omentum major or gastro-colic omentum 

 {caul), which forms a peculiar cavity connected with the 

 general peritoneal cavity by a channel, foramen of Winslow, 

 which is situated below the spine against the coeliac axis. 

 The reflections of peritoneum from the stomach to the 



