THE STOMACH. 



505 



Fig. 220.* 



Posterior nares, two, 



Eustachian tubes, two, 



Mouth, 



Larynx, 



GEsophagus. 



The Posterior nares are the two large openings at the upper and front 

 part of the pharynx. On each side of these openings, and slightly above 

 the posterior termination of the inferior turbinated bone, is the irregular 

 depression in the mucous membrane, marking the entrance of the Eusta- 

 chian tube. Beneath the posterior nares is the large opening into the 

 mouth, partly veiled by tlie soft palate ; and, beneath the root of the tongue, 

 the cordiform opening of the larynx. The cesophageal opening is the lower 

 constricted portion of the pharynx. 



(Esophagus. The oesophagus (o'/siv, to bear, 

 (pa^eiv, to eat) is a slightly flexuous canal, in- 

 clining to the left in the neck, to the right in the 

 upper part of the thorax,f and again to the left 

 in its course through the posterior mediastinum ; 

 it commences at the termination of the pharynx, 

 opposite the lower border of the cricoid cartilage 

 and fifth cervical vertebra, and descends the 

 neck behind and rather to the left of the trachea. 

 It then passes behind the arch of the aorta, and 

 along the posterior mediastinum, lying in front 

 of the thoracic aorta, to the cesophageal opening 

 in the diaphragm, where it enters the abclomen, 

 and terminates at the cardiac orifice of the sto- 

 mach at a point about opposite the tenth dorsal 

 vertebra. The esophagus is flattened and nar- 

 row in the cervical region, and cylindrical in the 

 rest of its course ; its largest diameter is met 

 with near the lower part of its course. 



THE STOMACH. 



The stomach is an expansion of the alimentary canal, situated in the 

 left hypochondriac, and extending into the epigastric region. It is di- 

 rected somewhat obliquely from above downwards, from left to right, and 

 from before backwards ; and in the female, where the injurious system of 

 tight-lacing has been pursued, is longer than in the male. On account 

 of the peculiarity of its form, it is divided into a greater or splenic, and a 

 lesser or pyloric^ end ; a lesser curvature above, and a greater curvature 

 below; an anterior and a posterior surface ; a cardiac orifice , and apyloric 

 orifice. The great end is not only of large size, but expands beyond the 



* The pharynx laid open from behind. 1. A section carried transversely through the 

 base of the skull. 2, 2. The walls of the pharynx drawn to each side. 3, 3. The pos- 

 terior nares, separated by the vomer. 4. The extremity of the Eustachian tube of one 

 side. 5. The soft palate. 6. The posterior pillar of the soft palate. 7. Its anterior 

 pillar; the tonsil is seen in the niche between the two pillars. 8. The root of the 

 tongue, partly concealed by the uvula. 9. The epiglottis, overhanging (10) the cordi- 

 form opening of the larynx. 11. The posterior part of the larynx. 12. The opening 

 into the oesophagus. 13. The external surface of the oesophagus. 14. The trachea. 



j- Cruveilhiei remarks that this inflexion explains the obstruction which a bougia 

 ometimes meets with, in its passage along the oesophagus, opposite the first rib. 



43 



