226 OUTLINES OF EQUINE ANATOMY. 



hexagonal epithelial "bile cells" recognizable by tlieir yellow 

 colour, due to granular contents. These acini or lobules 

 are embedded in the sj^ecial stroma of the gland, Glisson's 

 capsule, which has a thin layer investing the surface of the 

 organ and becomes well marked at the transverse fissure. 

 The circulation through the liver is complex. Vena 

 portse receives the blood from the anterior and posterior 

 mesenteric, pancreatic, splenic, and (lastly) gastric veins ; it 

 passes through a ring formed by the pancreas and direct 

 to the porta of the liver, during its whole course inferiorly 

 placed to the posterior vena cava. It enters the left ex- 

 tremity of the transverse fissure and sends a branch to each 

 lobe,which breaks up into vaginal hranclies iowiidi in Glisson's 

 capsule, which divide and subdivide, at length forming the 

 interlobular veins, which ramify on the surface of the lobule 

 sending branches inwards ; these radiate towards the centre 

 of the lobule, where they terminate in the intralobular vein, 

 which at the base of the lobule opens into a sublobular 

 vein, in relation to which the acinus is placed as a sessile 

 leaf is to a branch. By union and reunion the sublobular 

 veins at length form the hepatic veins, which terminate by 

 numerous orifices at the posterior vena cava, as may be 

 exposed by slitting up in its interhepatic portion. The 

 hepatic artery is a branch of the coeliac axis ; gives off a 

 branch to the duodenum, which gives off the right gastric 

 artery, and terminates by breaking up before arriving at 

 the porta. Its mode of termination with regard to the hepa- 

 tic and portal veins is not yet known, its subdivisions 

 have been traced into the substance of the lobuli. The 

 liver is supplied with nerve force by the sympathetic and 

 pneumogastrics. 



The abdominal portion of the alimentary tract consists 

 of the stomach and the major j)ortion of the intestinal 

 canal. It presents three coats, peritoneal, muscular, and 

 mucous. The peritoneal coat of the stomach is continued 

 on each side as the omenta ; that of the intestines has 

 been described. It is named differently in different parts. 

 Thus the duodenum is supported by a continuation of the 

 gastro-hepatic omentum, the remainder of the small in- 

 testines by the mesentery, and the several j)arts of the large 

 intestine by the mesocsecum, mesocolon, and mesorectum 

 respectively. The mesentery is arranged in a spiral manner 

 around the anterior mesenteric artery. In its free margin, be- 



