990 



THE ORGANS OF DIGESTION. 



rior surface of the superior mesenteric vessels, it follows them down to the loops 

 of small intestine surrounding all the jejunum and ileum, but not the duodenum; 

 it returns to the spinal column, constituting the mesentery. It has a right upper 

 and a left lower layer, between which are the mesenteric arteries and veins, 

 lacteals, lymphatics, and nerves, all fused together by fatty connective tissue. 

 The point of origin of the two layers is called "root of the mesentery " (Radix 

 mesenterii) (Fig. 613). 



It runs obliquely from the left side of the body of the second lumbar vertebra 

 across the vertebral column, aorta, vena cava inferior, and third pai't of the duo- 



Kight lati 

 ligament of liv 



I Falci/i 



Left lateral 

 ligament of liver. 



Vena cava inferior: 



(Esophagus. 

 Right phrenic artery. 



Coronary artery. 

 Hepatic artery. --. 



Splenic artery 

 Pancreas 



Inf. pane. -duo. artery 



Colica media 



Superior mesenteric 



Duodenum (3rd part) 



Aorta 



Duodenum (2nd part) 



Hiijttt and left kidneys. 



/Superior mesenteric. 



Aorta. 



Colica sinistra 

 Colica dextra. 

 Yasa infest, 



Siffmoid artery. t 



Slip, hoimorrhoidal artery. ,J 



Common iliac artery.' 



External iliac artery. "" 



Epigastric artery. 



Bladder. "~ 



'Extra-peritoneal tissue. 



" J Diaphragmatic end of 



Costo-colic ligament. 

 Dot between two anterior 

 layers of great omcntut 

 Transverse meso-culon. 



J Bare surface for 2nd par 

 ~ t of rectum. 



Left lateral false Uga- 

 " ( ment of bladder. 



FIG. 614.-Diagram devised by Dr. Delepine to show the lines along which the peritoneum leaves the wall 

 of the abdomen to invest the viscera. 



denum to the right sacro-iliac articulation or to the right iliac fossa (Fig. 614). 

 It is three-cornered or fan-shaped, with its root six inches long and its convex 

 intestinal edge about twenty-one feet long; its average width is eight or nine 

 inches. It is widest i. e. gives greatest freedom to the intestine, 20 to 25 cm. 

 above the caecum, and then suddenly shortens. The middle and lower loops of 

 intestine have the longest mesentery, and are more movable and more liable to 

 hernia. They usually lie in the pelvis. From its obliquity, fluid exudate of any 



