1344 



THE DUCTLESS GLANDS. 



column. They lie in the same plane as, and in intimate relation to, the supero- 

 medial aspects of the kidneys. Their colour is yellowish brown ; their size varies 

 within wide limits. To some extent it depends upon the cause of death being 

 large in subjects dead of acute septic intoxication, small after sudden death from 

 violence. Average dimensions are : height, 5 cm. ; breadth, 3 cm. ; thickness, 

 slightly under 1 cm. ; weight about 7 gm. 



Surface in contact 

 with liver 



Suprarenal vein 



Surface covered 

 by inferior cava 





Surface covered by 

 peritoneum 



B 



FIG. 1054. 



A. Anterior surface of right suprarenal gland, B. Anterior surface of left suprarenal gland. 



The superior and medial parts of each kidney are indicated in outline. On the right gland the dotted line 



indicates the superior limit of the peritoneal covering. 



Rarely only one gland is present ; occasionally one is quite small, the other unusually 

 large ; as a rule they are unequal in size, the left being more frequently the larger. 

 Sometimes the two glands are fused (cf . horse-shoe kidney). Frequently there are accessory 

 glands. These develop in the neighbourhood of the main gland, and usually remain there, 

 but may become attached, early in embryonic life, to organs which subsequently change 

 their position. As a result, they may be found not only beside the main gland but also in 



Surface in relation 

 to diaphragm 



Surface in relation to 

 left crus of diaphragm 



Surface in relation 

 to kidney 



Surface in relation 

 A -to kidney 



FIG. 1055. 

 A. Posterior surface of right suprarenal gland. B. Posterior surface of left suprarenal gland. 



the ligamentum latum, on the spermatic funiculus, or even attached to the epididymis. 

 Like the main glands, accessory suprarenals are compounded of cortex and medulla, and 

 require to be distinguished from chromaphil bodies and accessory cortical bodies, which 

 may be found in any of the positions in which accessory suprarenal glands occur. 



Forms and Relations. The suprarenal glands possess fairly constant forms and 

 relations. The right gland is flat and triangular in outline. It is moulded, antero- laterally 



