THE STOMACH. 



559 



FIG. 175. 



between the oesophagus and pylorus presents upward and 

 backward, and receives the omentum minus. The greater 

 looks downward and forward, and has the omentum majus 

 attached to it. Along these curvatures, the stomach is not 

 covered by the perito- 

 neum, and it is at these 

 points that the separa- 

 tion of the omentum 

 occurs, and allow of 

 that expansion of the 

 stomach, in a state of 

 distension, which it is 

 believed to be their 

 function to afford. 



A variety of opinions 

 have been entertained 

 in reference to the use 

 of the omentum majus, 

 into which we shall 

 not stop to inquire, and 

 will simply remark, in 

 addition to what has 

 been already said, un- 

 der the head of perito- 

 neum, that both its 

 position and density 

 vary very much. At 

 one time it is found 

 spread out as an apron, over the intestines, and at another, 

 tucked up and hid by the stomach. At one time it is 

 very thick, from being loaded with fat while at another, 

 it is entirely destitute of adipose matter, and extremely 

 thin and transparent. 



FIG. 175 represents the Stomach and Intestinal Tube. 1 (Esophagus laid 

 open. 2 Cardiac orifice of stomach. 3 Interior of stomach. 4 Duodenum 

 commencing at the pyloric orifice of stomach. 5 Gallbladder. 6 6 6 Small 

 intestine. 7 Coacum or beginning of large intestine. 8 Appendix vermifor- 

 mis. 9 Right ascending colon. 10 Transverse colon. 11 Left descending 

 colon. 12 Sigmoid flexure. 13 Rectum. 14 Anus. 



