56 ORGANS OF DIGESTION. 



The mucous membranes are exposed to a multitude of mor- 

 bid alterations, such as polypus, scirrhus, cancer, phlegmor- 

 rhagiae or serous fluxes, blennorrhagias or mucous fluxes, in- 

 flammation in all its forms, gangrene, ulcerations, and conges- 

 tions. 



CHAPTER IV. 



OF THE ASSISTANT CHYLOPOETIC VISCERA. 

 SECT. I. OF THE LIVER. 



THE Liver (Hepar, Jecur) secretes the Bile, and is the largest 

 glandular body in the human frame. It, as mentioned, occupies 

 the whole of the right hypochondriac region, the upper half of 

 the epigastric, and, as it becomes thinner in going towards the 

 left side, it occupies a small space in the right superior part of 

 the left hypochondriac region. Its whole superior face is in 

 contact with the diaphragm; on the left it is bounded by the 

 spleen, and below by the stomach and the transverse colon; 

 behind it, are the vertebral column and the ascending cava. 



The shape of the liver is like one half of an ovoidal body cut 

 into two in the direction of its long diameter, and having the 

 thick end turned to the right side. It is about ten inches in 

 length by six or seven wide, and weighs from four to five 

 pounds in the adult. Its colour is a reddish brown, generally; 

 though, on its under surface and about its edges, broad, blue or 

 black patches are constantly met with, which do not indicate 

 any morbid derangement. 



Its upper surface is of a uniform convexity, rather more pro- 

 minent at the right posterior part than elsewhere; adjusts itself 

 accurately into the concavity made by the under surface of the 

 diaphragm; and is unequally divided from before backwards by 

 the suspensory ligament. The anterior margin is thin, and is 

 notched where the suspensory ligament begins ; the posterior 

 margin is much thicker, and has near its middle a broad de- 



