OF THE OMENTA. 13 



It is proved, from what has been said, that the peritoneum is 

 a single and complete sac, and that, with the exception stated of 

 the Fallopian tubes, there is no hole in it either for the passing 

 of blood vessels, nerves, or viscera. And that it is so foreted over 

 the abdominal viscera, that with patience and sufficient address, 

 one might remove it from their surface and extract them, with- 

 out even laying open its cavity : an experiment said to have 

 been successfully accomplished by Nicholas Massa,* and some 

 other anatomists. 



SECT. II. OF THE OMENTA. 



There are four processes of the peritoneum, each of which is 

 designated under the term Omentum, Epiploon, or Caul. 



1. The Omentum Minus or Hepatico-Gastricum, extends, 

 as its name imports, between the liver and the stomach. It be- 

 gins at the transverse fissure of the liver, and proceeds from it, 

 from the right side of the lobulus spigelii, the front of which it 

 conceals, and from the inferior posterior face of the tendinous 

 centre of the diaphragm; it is attached to the lesser curvature of 

 the stomach in all the space between the cardiac and the pylo- 

 ric orifice. Its right margin reaches from beyond the pylorus* 

 to the duodenum, and includes the vessels going to the liver, 

 and the biliary ducts; in consequence of which, this margin is 

 called the Capsule of Glisson. The capsule is, however, more 

 properly the condensed cellular substance within. 



The two laminae which compose the omentum minus are 

 thin and transparent, and have but little fat in them; in approach- 

 ing the stomach they become very distinct from each other, and 

 receive between them the superior coronary vessels of the sto- 

 mach. One lamina then goes before the stomach and the other 

 behind, in the form of a peritoneal covering. These laminse, 

 having covered in that way the anterior and the posterior surface 

 of the stomach, unite again on the greater curvature of the lat- 

 ter, to form the beginning of the omentum majus. 



2. The Omentum Majus or Gastro-Colicum, as indicated by its 



* Anal. Liber. Introduct. an. 1539. Portal. 



VOL. II. 3 



