OF THE ABDOMEN. 7 



the cartilages of the false ribs. It is evident that these four 

 lines or planes, two horizontal and two vertical, will, with the 

 assistance of the parietes of the abdomen, furnish nine regions : 

 three above; three in the middle, and three below. TJie cen- 

 tral region, above, is the Epigastric ; and on its sides are the 

 right and the left Hypochondriac. The central region in the 

 middle, surrounding the navel, is the Umbilical; and on its sides 

 are the right and the left Lumbar. The central region below, 

 is the Hypogastric; and on its sides are the right and the left 

 Iliac. There are also some subordinate divisions: for example, 

 the hollow in the epigastric region, around the ensiform car- 

 tilage, is called the pit of the stomach, or Scrobiculus Cordis; 

 and for an inch or two around the syrnphysis pubis, is the re- 

 gion of the pubes, (Regio Pubis.) 



Anatomists differ among themselves about the points of de- 

 parture and the position of the lines, or rather planes, separating 

 the regions. Some fix them at definite distances from the um- 

 bilicus, and others resort to the points of the skeleton. The 

 umbilicus is the most fallacious mark, because its elevation va- 

 ries considerably, according to the state of distention of the ab- 

 domen, it being comparatively higher when the abdomen is 

 tumid than when it is not. Neither does it answer to take the 

 anterior ends of the last ribs as the points for the upper horizon- 

 tal line to pass through ; as they, sometimes, are almost as low 

 down as the umbilicus itself. The superior anterior spinous 

 processes are also objectionable as the points of departure for 

 the vertical lines; as they leave too much room for the central 

 regions of the abdomen, and too little for the lateral: I have, 

 therefore, after some hesitation, thought proper to substitute the 

 anterior inferior spinous processes; and, especially, as the posi- 

 tion of the viscera, as almost universally described, is more in 

 accordance with this rule. 



General Situation of the Viscera of the Abdomen. 



When the abdomen is so opened as to leave its viscera in 

 their natural position, they will be found as follows : 



1. The Liver, the largest gland of the body, is in the right 



