320 SOLID PARTS OF ANIMALS. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



OF THE PANCREAS. 



THE pancreas is a conglomerate gland situated behind the 

 stomach between the spleen and duodenum ; one extremity be- 

 ing in contact with the spleen and the other surrounded by the 

 curve of the duodenum, the left or splenic extremity is narrow 

 and thin ; the right is broader, and called the head of the pan- 

 creas. A small part of it is detached somewhat from the rest, 

 and called the lesser pancreas. 



The granules of which this gland is composed are aggregated 

 into lobules, which are connected so as to form a mass of cellu- 

 lar tissue. It is of a pale-ash colour, about six inches long, and 

 one and a-half in breadth, and from half-an inch to three quar- 

 ters in thickness. Each granule contains within itself all the 

 elements of a secreting organ. In its interior is a minute cell, 

 being the ultimate radicle of the excretory duct, around which 

 is a minute vascular plexus, all of which are supported and con- 

 nected by cellular tissue, in which also run filaments of nerves. 



Thus it appears that, if we abstract the numerous vessels and 

 nerves which surround every granule, the pancreas consists chief- 

 ly of cellular tissue. Doubtless the pancreatic duct, even to its 

 capillary extremities in the granules, is lined with a mucous 

 membrane. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



OF THE LIVER. 



THE liver is a conglomerate gland of a large size, destined for 

 the secretion of the bile , a liquid, the nature and properties of 

 which will be described in a future chapter of this volume. 



The form of the liver is very irregular. Its colour is red- 

 dish-brown, its upper surface is smooth and convex, and is divid- 

 ed into two parts or lobes. Its texture is pretty firm. It is in- 

 vested by the peritoneum, except at the points of reflection of 



