24 



THE PERITONEUM. 



the peritoneum, they naturally pass between these lamina of 

 the mesentery. 



Some of the viscera are much more completely invested with 

 the peritoneum than others. The stomach, liver, and spleen are 

 almost completely surrounded by it ; and it is said to form a 

 coat for each of these viscera. That portion of the smaller 

 intestinal tube, which is called jejunum and ileum, and the 

 transverse portion of the large intestine, called the arch of the 



Fig. 133.* 



colon, are invested by it in 

 the same way. But a con- 

 siderable portion of the du- 

 odenum and the pancreas 

 is behind it. The lateral 

 portions of the colon are in 

 close contact with the pos- 

 terior surface of the abdo- 

 men, and the peritoneum 

 only covers that portion of 

 their surfaces which looks 

 anteriorly towards the cavi- 

 a ty of the abdomen, and is 

 not in contact with its pos- 

 terior surface. 



The urinary organs are 

 not much connected with 

 the peritoneum. The kid- 

 neys appear exterior to it, 

 and behind it : the bladder 

 of urine is below it, and has 

 but a partial covering from 

 it, on its upper portion. 



* Fig. 133 is a diagram, illustrating the reflections of the peritoneum, a, 

 Umbilicus, b, b, Diaphragm, c, Liver, d, Stomach, e, Transverse colon. 

 /, Duodenum. g t Pancreas, h, Small intestines. ', Vertebral column. k r 

 Promontory of the sacrum. ?, Rectum, m, Uterus, n, Bladder, o, Symphysis 

 pubis. p, Coronary ligament of the liver, q, Omentum minus or hepatico- 

 gastricum. r, Omentum majus, or gastro-colicum. s, Transverse mesocolon. 

 t, Sac of the omentum majus. , Mesentery. P. 



