538 



REGIONS OF THE ABDOMEN. 



gastric region. Two other regions are spoken of the 

 FlG> 166< one about the ensiform 



cartilage, called the scro- 

 liculus-cordis and the 

 other about the symphy- 

 sis pubis, called the re- 

 gio pubis. These several 

 regions are more or less 

 arbitrary, and the dis- 

 sector will soon find that 

 nature does not confine 

 herself to the limits here 

 prescribed. 



The epigastric region 

 (frtc, over, yasT'jfp, stomach) 

 contains most of the sto- 

 mach, the solar plexus 

 of nerves, the pancreas, 

 left lobe of the liver, left 

 extremity of the right 

 lobe, and is traversed in 



the longitudinal direction by the aorta, thoracic duct, and 



commencement of the vena azygos. 



The umbilical region surrounds the navel, and contains the 



upper portions of the small intestines, mesentery, and arch 



of the colon, covered by the omentum majus. 



The hypogastric (vrto, under, ya^p, stomach,) contains the 



lower portion of the small intestines, the termination of 



the aorta, and commencement of the vena-cava ascendens. 

 The hypochondriac, (Wo, under, xov8po$, cartilage,) right 



and left, are on either side of the epigastric and beneath 



FIG. 166 represents the Regions of the Abdomen. 1 1 A line drawn from 

 the crest of the ilium on the one side, to the same point on the opposite side. 

 5 2, 3 3 Lines drawn perpendicularly from the anterior inferior spinous pro- 

 cesses, to the cartilages of the ribs. 4 4 A line parallel to 1 1 and passing 

 along the xiphoid, and most prominent costal cartilages. 5 5 Right and left 

 hypochondriac regions. 6 Epigastric region. 7 Umbilical region. 8 8 Right 

 and left lumbar regions. 9 Hypogastric region. 10 10 Right and left iliac 

 regions. 11 Pubic region. 



