IO4 THE PHYSIOLOGY OF DIGESTION AND ABSORPTION 



ences nutrition. Removal of the gland is followed by death from 

 inanition in two or three weeks; and previous to that sequel the 

 most striking phenomenon is marked glycosuria, with the ordi- 

 nary symptoms of diabetes mellitus. Retention of a compara- 

 tively small portion of the gland obviates this condition. Sugar 

 does not exist normally in the blood, and this internal secretion 

 may contain some ferment which effects its consumption. 



The Liver. 



The liver is the largest gland in the body. Its function is to 

 produce bile, glycogen and urea. 



Anatomy, The liver is situated in the upper part of the 

 abdominal cavity, chiefly in the right hypochondrium. Its 



FIG. 43. The under surface of the liver. 



g. b., gall bladder; h. d., common bile duct- h. a., hepatic artery; v. p., portal vein; 

 /. q., lobulus quadratus; /. s., lobulus spigelii; /. c., lobulus caudatus; d. v., ductus 

 venosus; u. v., umbilical vein. (Kirkes after Noble Smith.) 



weight in the average adult is about four and a half pounds. It 

 is covered, except for a small area behind, by peritoneum, 

 processes of which run from it at several points and constitute 

 its supporting ligaments. The proper coat of the liver lies 



