THE SPLEEN. 589 



" that the union of the bile and pancreatic fluid produces a 

 new and distinct fluid, having, in addition to the peculiar 

 properties of these two fluids, another superadded, that of 

 digesting azotised substances, or, in other words, having the 

 properties of the gastric juice." 



THE SPLEEN, (orttyv, lien.) 



The spleen (Fig. 180) is situated in the posterior part of 

 the left hypochondriac region, having the diaphragm above, 

 and the colon and kidney below, and the stomach and pan- 

 creas upon its right. Its shape resembles an oval, cut in 

 the long direction. Its color varies, though most generally 

 it is a deep blue or purple. Its size also varies, being from 

 four to five inches long, and from two to three inches wide. 

 It is convex towards the ribs, and concave towards the 

 stomach. In this concavity there is a depression called 

 hilum lienis, in which the blood-vessels and nerves enter and 

 pass out. Sometimes there are several spleens, in which 

 case the superfluous ones are said to be not larger than nut- 

 megs. 



Structure. This organ (Fig. 192) has two coats, serous 

 and. fibrous. The serous is a reflection from the peritoneum, 

 FIG. 192. an( ^ gives it a complete investment, except 

 where the vessels enter. This coat attaches 

 the spleen to several organs, as the stomach, 

 colon, and diaphragm, by its reflections, called 

 gastro-splenicj splenico-colic } and splenico-plire- 

 nic ligaments. 



The fibrous or proper coat is closely con- 

 nected with the serous, and is a thin, but 

 compact, extensible, and elastic membrane, 

 which not only surrounds this organ, but sends down into 

 its substance innumerable fibres and lamellae, which traverse 

 it in every direction, and divide it into partitions, making 

 it cellular. This coat also forms sheaths for the blood- 



FIG. 192 represents the Spleen. Between 1 and 2, hilus or fissure of the 

 spleen, where the blood-vessels enter and pass out. 4 One of the larger 

 branches of the splenic artery. 5 Splenic vein. 



