358 DISSECTION OF THE RABBIT. 



an inch behind the diaphragm. It runs in the 

 mesentery, and divides into the hepatic artery 

 supplying the liver, and the lieno-gastric artery 

 supplying the stomach and the spleen. 



b. The anterior mesenteric artery is a large median 



vessel, arising from the aorta about three- 

 quarters of an inch behind the coeliac artery. 

 It divides into numerous branches, which run 

 in the mesentery to supply the duodenum, 

 pancreas, small intestine, caecum, and colon. 



c. The renal arteries are paired, the right one arising 



just behind the anterior mesenteric artery, and 

 the left a little further back. Each gives a 

 small branch to the muscles of the back, and 

 then runs outwards to the kidney. 



d. The spermatic arteries, in the male, are a pair of 



very small arteries, which arise about a couple 

 of inches behind the left renal artery, and run 

 backwards and outwards along the dorsal sur- 

 face of the abdomen to enter the epididymes at 

 their anterior ends. 



The ovarian arteries, in the female, arise in 

 the same position as the spermatic, but run 

 outwards and slightly forwards to the ovaries. 



e. The posterior mesenteric artery is a median vessel, 



arising from the aorta about an inch in front of 

 its division into the common iliacs. It supplies 

 the hinder part of the rectum. 



I. The lumbar arteries are small median arteries, 

 arising from the dorsal surface of the aorta, and 

 dividing into right and left branches supplying 

 the body-walls. 



g. The median sacral artery is a small vessel arising 

 from the dorsal surface of the aorta, shortly 

 before its division, and running along the ventral 

 surface of the sacrum to the tail. It is to be re- 

 garded as the posterior continuation of the aorta. 



