THE ABDOMINAL CAVITY. 453 



The two layers of the hepato-gastric ligament separate at the lesser curvature 

 of the stomach, to cover that viscus ; then join at its greater curvature, and pass 

 to the interior of the abdominal cavity. This fold receives the name of the great 

 or gastro-coUc omentum ,- it leaves the left tuberosity of the ventriculus, which it 

 suspends to the sublumbar region from the whole extent of the great curvature ; 

 to the right it goes beyond the pylorus, to be continued on the concave curvature 

 of the duodenum, as far as the cascum. By its posterior border, the great omen- 

 tum is extended around the termination of the large colon and the origin of the 

 floating colon, where it is confounded with the visceral peritoneum of these organs, 

 as well as with the parietal peritoneum. It results from this arrangement, that 

 the great omentum forms behind the stomach, and in front of the adherent portion 

 of the large colon, a space that communicates with the great peritoneal cavity 

 by a veiy naiTow opening — the foramen of WinslouK This aperture is included 

 between the vena portas, posterior vena cava, anterior extremity of the pancreas, 

 and the lesser cm-vature of the stomach. To the left of the latter viscus, on the 



THEORETICAL LONGITUDINAL AND MEDIAN SECTION OF THE ABDOMINAL CAVITY, TO SHOW THE 

 REFLECTIONS OF THE PERITONEUM. 



1, Liver ; 2, stomach ; 3, small intestine ; 4, origin of the floating colon ; 5, rectum ; 6, vagina and 

 uterus; 7, bladder; 9, posterior aorta ; 10, diaphragm; 11, posterior vena cava; 12, inferior 

 abdominal wall. Pp, Pp, parital peritoneum ; Pv, Pv, visceral peritoneum , L, gastro-hepatic 

 ligament ; M, mesentery ; Ge, great omentum. 



external face of the great omentum, the spleen is suspended ; consequently, that 

 portion extending from the spleen to the ventriculus, is named the gastro-splenic 

 omentum. 



The two layers composing the great omentum are very thin for the greater 

 part of theii' extent, and enclose the blood-vessels between them. In emaciated 

 animals, these vessels are distinctly seen, owing to the transparency of the mem- 

 branes, and they give the omentum a lacework appearance ; but in fat subjects 

 they are concealed by the adipose tissue deposited along their course, and which 

 may accumulate in considerable quantity. 



In the sublumbar region, the parietal peritoneum forms several folds ; these 

 are : the hepatico-renal ligament., extending from the right lobe of the liver to the 

 anterior border of the right kidney ; the ligament of tJie lobus Spigelii, the mesen- 

 tery proper, the colic mesentery ; lastly, the greatly developed layers suiTOunding 



