354 DISSECTION OF THE RABBIT. 



or the renal and reproductive organs or the nerves in the 

 mesentery. 



i. The phrenic veins are small veins in the sub- 

 stance of the diaphragm, opening into the 

 vena cava as it passes through this. 



ii. The hepatic veins are large vessels returning 

 blood from the several lobes of the liver, and 

 opening into the portion of the vena cava im- 

 bedded in the liver. There are four chief ones. 



iii. The renal veins are a pair of large veins running 

 inwards from the kidneys to the vena cava, 

 the right and shorter one being about three- 

 quarters of an inch in front of the left. 



Each renal vein receives a small vein from 

 the corresponding adrenal body, and a much 

 larger one from the dorsal wall of the abdomen. 



iv. The spermatic veins in ths male [or ovarian 

 veins in the female] are a pair of small veins 

 returning blood from the testes [or ovaries], 

 and opening into the vena cava near the 

 hinder end of the abdomen. The left one 

 frequently opens into the renal vein, or the 

 ilio-lumbar vein. 



v. The ilio-lumbar veins are paired, and return 

 blood from the hinder part of the abdominal 

 walls, opening into the vena cava about the 

 level of the anterior border of the thigh. The 

 left one often receives the spermatic [or ova- 

 rian] vein, and opens into the renal vein. 



vi. The external iliac veins are a pair of large 

 veins returning blood from the hind-limbs, 

 and opening into the vena cava at the hinder 

 end of the abdomen, about an inch in front 

 of the pubic symphysis. They receive small 

 veins from the bladder [and in the female 

 from the uterus]. 



