558 THE STOMACH. 



the lobulus Spigelii, is seen a large opening, called the fo- 

 ramen of Winslow. It is by this foramen that the cavity of 

 the omentum communicates with the cavity of the peri- 

 toneum. If air he forced into this opening, it is found to 

 pass behind the stomach, and fill the cavity of the omen- 

 tum. Dr. Hodge, of Philadelphia, appears to be the first 

 who has suspected the true use of this foramen, which is to 

 introduce this lining lamina of the great omentum, so as to 

 make it duplicate throughout. Function. The peritoneum 

 connects the several abdominal viscera, and retains them 

 in their natural positions. It also conducts the various 

 blood-vessels and nerves, and secretes a fluid by which its 

 surfaces are lubricated, and friction diminished. 



THE STOMACH (VENTRICTJLUS.) 



The stomach receives the masticated and insalivated food 

 from the oesophagus. 



This organ presents the largest dilatation of the aliment- 

 ary canal. It occupies the epigastric, left hypochondriac, 

 and part of the right hypochondriac region, lying between 

 the oesophagus on the left, and the duodenum on the right, 

 with each of which it is inseparably connected. It has 

 still further connections, by means of the peritoneum, to 

 the diaphragm and liver above, through the reflection of 

 the omentum minus ; below, to the arch of the colon, by 

 the omentum majus ; on the left, with the spleen, by the 

 omentum gastro-splenicum. 



Its shape is somewhat conoidal, with the base on the left 

 side, whence it extends obliquely downward and forward, 

 across the epigastric region, to terminate on the right side, 

 near the gall-bladder, in the duodenum. It presents two 

 surfaces, two curvatures, two orifices, and two extremities. 



The surfaces, are anterior and posterior. In the dis- 

 tended state of the stomach, the anterior surface becomes 

 superior, and looks towards the diaphragm, being in con- 

 tact with the ribs and left lobe of the liver. The posterior 

 surface presents towards the spine. The curvatures are su- 

 perior and inferior, or lesser and greater. The lesser extends 



