DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. 343 



The pancreas is a diffuse fat-like gland, of a 

 pinkish colour, scattered in the mesentery of the 

 duodenal loop. It lies mainly around the large 

 vessels of the loop, and is more compact at its 

 anterior end. 



The pancreatic duct commences in front, and 

 runs backwards through the gland, receiving smaller 

 ducts from its several lobes : it opens into the inner 

 side of the distal limb of the duodenal loop, about 

 three inches beyond the bend. 

 Open the duodenum, opposite to the entrance of the pan- 

 creatic duct ; wash out the contents ; note the aperture of the 

 duct, and insert a bristle into it. 



4. The liver is a large solid organ, thick in the middle 

 and thinner towards the edges. Its anterior sur- 

 face is convex and fits against the diaphragm, to 

 which it is attached by a median vertical fold of 

 peritoneum, the suspensory ligament : its posterior 

 surface is concave, and lies against the stomach. 

 The large size of the liver is due to the need for 

 extensive stores of glycogen and to a massive 

 mechanism for regulating the quality of the blood 

 passed along the portal vein. 



a. The lobes of the liver. 



The liver is divided into five distinct lobes, 

 of which one is grooved for the gall-bladder. 



b. The gall-bladder is an elongated thin-walled sac, 



rather less than an inch in length, of a dark 

 green or brown colour, and lying in the groove 

 in the posterior surface of the right central lobe 

 of the liver. 



c. The bile-duct is a narrow tube, about two inches 



long, running backwards from the smaller and 

 dorsal end of the gall-bladder to open into the 

 dorsal surface of the duodenum, about a third 

 of an inch beyond the pylorus. It receives 



