VENA PORTARUM. 93 



from all the chylopoietic viscera except the liver, and is 

 of course formed by the union of the veins which correspond to 

 all the branches of the creliac and mesenteric arteries, as they 

 are distributed to the stomach and intestines, the spleen,, the 

 pancreas, and the omentum. The veins from the intestines 

 generally form two great trunks, which are denominated 

 the greater and lesser mesenteric veins. The great mesenteric 

 vein is situated to the right, ano! rather before the mesenteric 



Fig. 147.* 



artery. After it has approached the origin of the artery, it 

 separates from it, and passes behind the pancreas : at this place, 

 nearly in front of the spine, it is joined by the great vein of the 

 spleen, which forms almost a right angle with it, and these 

 constitute the great trunk of the vena portarum. The lesser 

 mesenteric vein, which corresponds to the inferior mesenteric 

 artery, and brings blood from the pelvis and from the left part 



* The under surface of the liver. 1. The right lobe. 2. The left lobe. 3. 

 The lobus quadratus. 4. The lobulus Spigelii. 5. The lobulus caudatus. 6. 

 The longitudinal fissure, in which is seen the rounded cord; the remains of the 

 umbilical vein. 7. The pons hepatis. 8. The fissure for the ductus venosus ; 

 the obliterated cord of the ductus is seen passing backwards to be attached to 

 the coats of the inferior vena cava 9. 10. The gall-bladder lodged in its fossa. 

 11. The transverse fissure, containing from before backwards, the hepatic 

 duct, hepatic artery, and portal vein. 12. The vena cava. 13. A depression 

 corresponding with the curve of the colon. 14. A double depression produced 

 by the right kidney and its supra-renal capsule. 15. The rough surface on the 

 posterior border of the liver left uncovered by peritoneum ; the cut edge of 

 peritoneum surrounding this surface forms part of the coronary ligament. 16. 

 The notch on the anterior border, separating the two lobes. 17. The notch on 

 the posterior border, corresponding with the vertebral column. 



