OF THE FUNCTION OF THE OMENTUM. 249 



The intestinal tube, with the exception of the rectum, 

 projects so much into the cavity of the abdomen, that 

 it is, as it were, suspended in loose processes of the 

 peritonaeum, called mesentery and mesocolon: the 

 broad ligaments of the uterus are similar to these. 



400. The longest and most remarkable process of 

 peritonaeum, is the omentum — a large, empty, delicate, 

 sac, hanging from the large curvature of the stomach, 

 extended over the greater part of the small intes- 

 tines, applying itself closely to their convolutions, 

 and in some measure insinuating itself into their 

 interstices. 



401. Besides the blood vessels seen upon the omen- 

 tum, it is marked by fatty striae or bands, every where 

 reticulated (whence the german name (Netzhaut) of 

 this membrane), which in corpulent persons increase 

 occasionally to a large and even dangerous size, and 

 by means of which the whole omentum is lubricated by 

 an adipose halitus. 



402. On the latter circumstance depends the use 

 commonly ascribed to the omentum, — of lubricating 

 the intestines and assisting their continual movements : 

 this also appears the use of those analogous small 

 bursae which are found * in such numbers about the 

 rectum f and colon.J The omentum also prevents 

 the adhesion of the intestines to the peritonaeum, and 

 the consequent impediment to the functions of the 

 primae viae. 



403. There is another two-fold office attributed with 



* I have lately seen similar appendices on the peritonaeal covering of an 

 uterus unimpregnated, but which had formerly been pregnant. 

 f Walter, tab. ii. m. m. m. 

 I IVnllon, Anatomia hum. corporis, tab. xxxix. fig. 6. C. C. C. D. D. D. 



