1264 



THE ORGANS OF DIGESTION 



the posterior wall of the abdomen. Its root (radix mesenterii), the part connected 

 with the structures in front of the vertebral column, is narrow, about six inches 

 in length, and directed obliquely from the left side of the second lumbar vertebra 

 to the right iliac fossa (Fig. 988). Its intestinal border is about twenty feet in length, 

 and here the two layers separate so as to enclose the intestine and form its peri- 

 toneal coat. Its breadth, between its vertebral and intestinal border, is about 

 eight inches. Its upper border is continuous with the under surface of the trans- 

 verse mesocolon; its lower border, with the peritoneum covering the cecum and 



Right lateral Falciform ligan 

 ligament of liver. of liver. 



Lfft lateral 

 ligament of liver. 



Vena cava inferior."'*: 



(Esophagus. i-j'i 

 night phrenic artery. 



Coronary artery. - 

 Hepatic artery. 



Splenic artery.. :.mmi,9 

 Pancreai.-^f ^ 



Inf. pane. -duo. artery -A \^=^= 



Colica media. 



Superior mesenteric. 



Duodenum (3rd part). 



Aorta. 



Duodenum (2nd part). 



Right and left kidneys. 



Superior nenenteric. 



Aorta. 



Colica sinistra. 



Colica dextra. 



Vasa intestini. | _ 



Sigmoid artery, 

 up. hemorrhoidal artery. . 



Common iliac artery. 



Internal iliac artery. 



External iliac artery. 



Epigastric artery. 

 Bladder. 



Peritoneum. 



Extra-peritoneal ' 



J Diaphragmatic end if 

 ( gastro-hepatic omentu 

 (lastro-phrenic ligament. 



Gaitro-iplenic omentu 

 Duodenum (1st part). 



Costo-colic ligament. 

 Dot between two an 

 layers of great om, 

 Transverse meso-coloi 



5 Rare surface for de 

 I ing colon. 



The two layers of the 

 I mesentery proper. 



Rare surface for ascent- 

 ing colon. 



...S'gmoid meso-colon. 



Rare surface for caecum. 

 Mesa-rectum. 



( Rare surface for 2nd pan 

 , ;f rectum. 

 5 Left lateral false liga- 

 ( ment of bladder. 



FIG. 988. Diagram devised by Dr. Del^pine to show the lines along which the peritoneum leaves the wall of 



the abdomen to invest the viscera. 



ascending colon. It serves to retain the small intestines in their position, and 

 contains between its layers the mesenteric vessels and nerves, the lymphatic vessels, 

 and mesenteric lymph nodes. These nodes number from 50 to 150. The mesentery 

 is somewhat translucent, particularly at its upper part, but in stout individuals 

 it becomes opaque on account of the fat deposited between its layers. 



In most cases the peritoneum covers only the front and sides of the ascending 

 and descending parts of the colon. Sometimes, however, these are surrounded by 

 the serous membrane and attached to the posterior abdominal wall by an ascending 



