92 HEPATIC ARTERY. 



found the vessels which carry out of the gland the fluid secreted 

 by it, or the bile. 



The artery of the liver is denominated the Hepatic Artery. 

 The vein which goes to the liver is called the Vena Portarum, 

 from the place at which it enters. The veins which carry to 

 the vena cava the blood brought to the liver by the hepatic 

 artery and the vena portarum, are called the Hepatic Veins ; 

 and the duct through whicl> the bile flows out of the liver, is 

 called the Hepatic Duct. Three of these vessels, the Hepatic 

 Artery, the Vena Portarum, and the Hepatic Duct, enter the 

 liver at the great fissure, at the spot where the prominences 

 exist called the portae ; hence the name vena portarum was 

 applied to the vein. 



These vessels ramify in the manner presently to be described ; 

 and it is ascertained by minute anatomical investigation, that 

 the liver is entirely composed of the ramifications of these ves- 

 sels and of the hepatic veins, with absorbent vessels and nerves, 

 which are connected together by cellular membrane. 



It has been already observed, that the first great branch sent 

 off by the aorta in the abdomen, the Cceliac, divides into three 

 branches, which go respectively to the stomach, the liver and 

 the spleen. 



The hepatic is generally the largest of these branches. In its 

 progress towards the liver it sends off an artery to the stomach, 

 called the gastrica dextra. At the great fissure it divides into 

 two branches : the right branch, which supplies the right lobe 

 of the liver, is of course the largest. This branch sends off one 

 to the gall-bladder, which is called the cystic artery ; and also 

 some smaller branches : it passes under the hepatic duct, and 

 ramifies through the great lobe of the liver. The left branch 

 is distributed through the left lobe of the viscus. It can be 

 proved by injection, that the hepatic artery communicates not 

 only with the hepatic veins, but with the biliary duct, and the 

 vena portarum also. It has been disputed whether the size of 

 this artery is greater than would be requisite for the nourishment 

 and animation of the liver. 



Vena Portarum, the great peculiarity of the liver, originates 



