SYSTEM OF ANATOMY.' 



PART VII. 



OF THE ABDOMEN. 



The lowermost of the two great cavities of the trunk of the 

 body is called Abdomen. The pelvis may be considered as a 

 chamber of this cavity, although its structure is very different. 



CHAPTER I. 



A GENERAL VIEW OF THE ABDOMEN AND PELVIS AND THEIR 

 CONTENTS. GENERAL ANATOMY OF THE SEROUS MEM- 

 BRANES. OF THE PERITONEUM. 



Of the Abdomen. 



This great cavity occupies more than half of the space 

 enclosed by the ribs, and all the interior of the trunk of the 

 body below the thorax. 



It is bounded above by the diaphragm, which is supported 

 by the lower ribs ; by a portion of the spine and its adjoining 

 muscles behind ; and on the front and sides by the various 

 muscles which occur between the lower margin of the thorax 

 and the upper margin of the ossa innominata : these bones 

 contribute, by means of the costae of the ossa ilia to form the 

 lateral walls. The pelvis forms the lower boundary. 



VOL. II. 2 



