8 ORGANS OF DIGESTION. 



upper part of the abdomen, immediately below the diaphragm. 

 It occupies nearly the whole of the right hypochondriac region; 

 the upper half of the epigastric ; and the right superior part of 

 the left hypochondriac. The anterior extremity of the gall- 

 bladder projects beyond its anterior margin. 



2. The spleen is situated in the posterior part of the left hy- 

 pochondriac region. 



3. The stomach, in a moderate condition of distention, occu- 

 pies the lower half of the epigastric region, and the right infe- 

 rior portion of the left hypochondriac. 



4. The Small Intestine, when moderately distended by flatus, 

 occupies the urabilical region, the hypogastric, portions of the 

 iliac on each side, and also the upper part of the cavity of the 

 pelvis, when the viscera of the latter are empty. 



5. The Large Intestine traverses the cavity of the abdomen 

 in such manner as to perform almost the entire circuit of it. 

 It begins in the right iliac region by receiving the lower extre- 

 mity of the small intestine; it then ascends through the right 

 lumbar and the right hypochondriac, passes into the lower part 

 of the epigastric, or into the upper of the umbilical, according 

 to the state of distention of the stomach; thence it gets into the 

 left hypochondriac, being fixed higher up there than in the cor- 

 responding region of the other side; afterwards it goes down 

 into the left lumbar and into the left iliac; thence it passes into 

 the pelvis, and, descending in front of the sacrum, terminates 

 in the orifice called anus. 



6. The Caul, or Omentum, is a membrane, of various densi- 

 ties, in different individuals, and lies in front of the intestines. 

 Sometimes it is found spread over the latter like an apron, but 

 on other occasions is drawn up into the umbilical region, form- 

 ing a ridge across it. 



7. The Pancreas lies transversely in the lower back part of 

 the epigastric region. It extends from the left hypochondriac 



