THE LIVER. 



511 



The Nerves of the pharynx and oesophagus are derived from the 

 glosso-pharyngeal, pneumogastric, and sympathetic. The nerves of 

 the stomach are the pneumogastric and sympathetic branches from 

 the solar plexus ; and those of the intestinal canal are the superior 

 and inferior mesenteric and hypogastric plexuses. The extremity 

 of the rectum is supplied by the coccygeal nerves from the spinal 

 cord. 



THE LIVER. 



The liver is a conglomerate gland of large size, appended to the 

 alimentary canal, and performing the double office of separating 

 impurities from the venous blood of the chylo-poietic viscera pre- 

 viously to its return into the general venous circulation, and of 

 secreting a fluid necessary to chylification, the bile. It is the largest 



Fig. 153.* 



organ in the body, weighing about four pounds, and measuring 

 through its longest diameter about twelve inches. It is situated in 

 the right hypochondriac region, and extends across the epigastrium 

 into the left hypochondriac, frequently reaching by its left extremity 

 to the upper end of the spleen. It is placed obliquely in the abdo- 

 men ; its convex surface looking upwards and forwards, and the 

 concave downwards and backwards. The anterior border is 

 sharp, free, and marked by a deep notch, the posterior rounded 

 and broad. It is in relation, superiorly and posteriorly with the 

 diaphragm, and inferiorly with the stomach, ascending portion of 

 the duodenum, transverse colon, right supra-renal capsule and right 

 kidney, and corresponds by its free border with the lower margin 

 of the ribs. 



* The upper surface of the liver. 1. The right lobe. 2. The left lobe. 3. The an- 

 terior or free border. 4. The posterior or rounded border. 5. The broad ligament. 

 6. The round ligament. 7, 7. The two lateral ligaments. 8, 8. The space left un- 

 covered by the peritoneum, and surrounded by the coronary ligament. 9. The inferior 

 vena cava. 10. The point of the lobus Spigelii. 3. The fundus of the gall-bladder 

 seen projecting beyond the anterior border of the right lobe. 



