REGIONS OF THE ABDOMEN. 17 



Many anatomists have fixed the two transverse lines above 

 mentioned, at an arbitrary distance above and below the 

 umbilicus : some choosing for this purpose two inches, and 

 others a hand's breadth. As these distances will occupy dif- 

 ferent proportions of the cavity in persons of different stature, , 

 other anatomists, with a view to avoid this inconvenience, 

 have proposed to connect these lines with certain fixed points of 

 the skeleton. 



It is of importance that the boundaries of these regions 

 should be fixed, and therefore the proposition of Sabatier may 

 be adopted ; namely, To draw the upper transverse line from 

 the most inferior part of the lower margin of the thorax, on one 

 side, to the corresponding part on the opposite side ; and the 

 lower transverse line from the uppermost part of the spine of 

 one ilium to the same part of the other. These lines will mark 

 the three great divisions. If, then, two parallel lines are drawn 

 directly upwards, one from each of the superior anterior spi- 

 nous processes of the ilium,* until it touches the lower margin 

 of the thorax, they will divide each of the two lower divisions 

 of the abdomen into three regions. The centre of the middle 

 division is the umbilical, and on each side of it is the right and 

 left lumbar region. The middle of the lower division is the 

 hypogastric ; and on each side of it the right and left iliac 

 region. 



It is true that the three middle regions of the abdomen will 

 be made very small by the vicinity of the transverse lines to 

 each other ; but the advantages derived from a principle which 

 is similar in its application to all subjects, fully compensates for 

 this inconvenience. 



There are therefore nine of these regions ; namely, The Epi- 

 gastric and the two Hypochondriac : the Umbilical, and the two 



* Professor Homer makes a more equable division of the cavity of the 

 abdomen, by drawing the two vertical lines from the anterior inferior spinous 

 processes of the iliac bones, so as to subdivide each of the three divisions made 

 by the transverse lines, into three nearly equal parts. Others draw the vertical 

 lines from the middle 2, Poupart's ligament. P. 



2* 



