IL'fJO 



Tin: 



; A \s or DIGESTION 



by a mesentery of its own the t\\ o posterior la yers of the greater omentum passing, 

 ;it this stage, in front of the colon ( Fig. 074). This condition sometimes persists 

 throughout adult life, hut. as a rule adhesion occurs between the mesentery of the 

 transverse colon and the posterior layer of the greater omentum, with the result 

 that the colon appears to receive its peritoneal covering by the splitting of the two 

 posterior laye,rs of the latter fold. In the adult the lesser sac intervenes between 

 the stomach and the structures on which that viscus lies, and performs, therefore, 

 the functions of a serous bnrsa for the stomach. 



Numerous peritoneal folds extend between the various organs or connect them 

 to the parietes. They serve to hold them in position, and, at the same time, 

 enclose the vessels and nerves proceeding to them. Some of these folds which 

 connect certain viscera with the parietes are called ligaments, such as the ligaments 



PapiUary tubercle. 



(?ttt edge of peritoneum 



l)ecendw<i 

 duodenum 



Spleen covered 

 by peritiiiii'ina 



Cut edge of peritoneum 



Fio. 983. Bursa omentali*, or lesser sac, opened from the front by an incision through the R.-istrorolIc oinen- 

 linn. A probe passes through the foramen of Window and rests on the Kiistropaiinc.it ir fold. (Henle.) 



of the liver and the false ligaments of the bladder. Others, which connect certain 

 parts of the intestine with the abdominal wall, constitute the mesenteries; and 

 lastly, those which proceed from the stomach to certain viscera in its neighborhood 

 are called omenta. 



The ligaments, formed by folds of the peritoneum, include those of the liver, 

 spleen, bladder, and uterus. They will be found described with their respective 

 organs. 



I he omenta are the lesser omentum, the greater omentum, and the gastrosplenic 

 omentum. 



The lesser or gastrohepatic omentum (onini/uni mimix) (Figs. 0X0 and OX. 1 !) is 

 the duphcature which extends between the transverse fissure of the liver and the 

 right side of the abdominal portion of the oesophagus, the lesser curvature of the 

 stomach, and the upper portion of the superior surface of the duodenum. 



