106 



INTESTINES. 



The Mucous or Villous coat, is a continuation of the oesophagus ; 

 it is soft and thick, of a light pink colour, and is thrown into a num- 



Fig. 86. 



ber of longitudinal rugce or folds, which are particularly numerous at 

 the greater curvature, and nearer the pyloric orifice.^ (See Fig. 86.) 



The epitlielium of the mucous membrane of the stomach is 

 thinner than that of the oesophagus. 



The surface of the stomach is covered by numerous pits or cells, 

 into which enter several small tubes, which are supposed to secrete 

 the gastric juice, and hence called gastric glajids. 



At the pyloric orifice, the mucous membrane is thrown into a cir- 

 cular or semi-circular fold, which is called the pyloric valve. 



The lesser curvature is supplied by the gastric artery, the greater 

 by the right and left gastro-epiploics, and the greater extremity by 

 the vasa brevia. The nerves are derived from the par vagum and 

 sympathetic. 



INTESTINES. 



The intestinal canal is from thirty to thirty-five feet in length, and 

 is divided into large and small intestine. 



SMALL INTESTINE. 



The small intestine is four-fifths of the length of the whole canal, 

 reaching from the pylorus to the large intestine ; it is cylindrical, 

 and about one inch in diameter, although there is a gradual diminu- 

 tion in diameter as it descends. It consis,ts of four coats. 



