320 



SPLANCHNOLOGY. 



left kidney and left aspect of the pancreas ; the suspensory liga^ 

 ment, formed of a double fold of peritoneum, with a central layer 

 of yellow elastic tissue, proceeds hence to the anterior border of 

 the left kidney and abdominal wall, becoming blended inferiorly 

 -vnth the great omentum ; the apex or inferior extremity is thin, 

 and terminates in a blunt^ point. 



The spleen is soft, elastic, tenacious, distensile, and consists of 

 serous and fibrous coats, and the tissue proper to it, or parenchyma. 

 The serous coat envelops all the organ but the hilus, and is a 

 reflection of the peritoneum. Beneath this is the proper capsule, 



Relation of anterior abdominal digestive organs— left antero-lateral view. 1, Liver ; 2, Stomach; 

 ."3, Spleen ; 4, Colon ; a, Gastro-hepatic omentum ; b, Gastro-splenic omentum ; c, Great omentum ; 

 ■ c', Its free portion. 



a thin, resisting, fibrous coat, formed by connective tissue and 

 elastic fibres. A number of white glistening bands, or trabeculce, 

 pass into and traverse the organ, forming a cellular network, 

 in the meshes of which is contained the parenchyma or splenic 

 pulp, a red-looking material, resembling grumous blood, which 

 brightens in colour on exposure to the atmosphere. 



The splenic artery, which is a branch of the coeliac axis, is very 

 large, and gives off numerous branches, which enter the organ, 

 enclosed in ^heaths formed by the fibrous capsule. Thase ramify 

 and give off branchlets, which run along the trabeculas, and ter- 

 minate in the pulp, in capillary plexuses, supported by minute 



