THE GALL-BLADDER. 103 



the gall-bladder, which is called the Cystic Duct. This duct is 

 nearly equal in length to the hepatic, and after running almost 

 parallel to it, at length unites so as to form an acute angle with 

 it. The cystic duct is smaller than the hepatic, and they unite 

 much like two branches of an artery. 



The Gall-Bladder, from which the cystic duct arises, has 

 the shape of a pear, with a very long neck, curved in a way to 

 be hereafter described. It is situated in a superficial pit or 

 cavity in the concave surface of the right lobe of the liver; and 

 its fundus, or basis, often projects a small distance beyond the 

 anterior edge of the viscus. Its position is such, that it extends 

 from before backwards, and inclines rather to the left ; of course, 

 therefore, when the subject lies on his back, the bottom of the 

 bladder is the uppermost part of it : when he lies on the left 

 side, it is also higher than the neck : and when he lies on the 

 right side it is the lowermost. 



The gall-bladder consists of an internal coat, and one that is 

 cellular or nervous, and has somewhat of a fibrous appearance. 

 It is covered also partially by the peritoneum. This coat con- 

 nects the gall-bladder to the surface of the pit or cavity in which 

 it lies. The peritoneal coat of the liver is extended from the 

 surface of the viscus over that part of the surface of the gall- 

 bladder which is not in contact with it. 



The internal coat has a peculiar structure, with a faint resem- 

 blance to that of the villous membrane. It is so arranged as to 

 form very fine folds, which have various directions : in some 

 places they make a net-work ; in others, as the neck of the 

 bladder, they are longitudinal. Many mucous follicles exist on 

 its internal surface. 



The neck of the gall-bladder is suddenly bent down or curved 

 upon itself, and twisted, so that it resembles the neck of the 

 swan, when the head of that bird is applied to one side of its 

 breast. 



A branch of the hepatic artery, which leaves it before it 

 enters the liver, is appropriated to the gall-bladder, and is, 

 therefore, denominated the cystic artery. The veins corres- 

 ponding to this artery empty themselves into the vena por- 



