132 NATURAL THEOLOaY. 



3. The liver is fastened in the body by two hgamenis : 

 the first, which is large and strong, comes from the covering 

 of the diaphragm, and penetrates the substance of the hver , 

 the second is the umbilical vein, which, after birth, degene- 

 rates into a ligament. The first, which is the principal, 

 fixes the liver in its situation while the body holds an erect 

 posture ; the second prevents it from pressing upon the dia- 

 phragm when we lie down ; and both together sling or sus- 

 pend the liver when we lie upon our backs, so that it may 

 not compress or obstruct the ascending vena cava,^ to which 

 belongs the important office of returning the blood from the 

 body to the heart. 



4. The bladder is tied to the navel by the urachus, 

 transformed mto a ligament : thus, what was a passage for 

 urine to the fostus, becomes, after birth, a support or stay to 

 the bladder. The peritoneum also keeps the viscera from 

 confounding themselves with, or pressing irregularly upon 

 the bladder ; for the kidneys and bladder are contained in a 

 distinct duplicature of that membrane, being thereby parti- 

 tioned off from the other contents of the abdomen, 



5. The kidneys are lodged in a bed of fat. 



6. The pancreas, or sweetbread, is strongly tied to the 

 peritoneum, v/hich is the great wrapping-sheet that encloses 

 all the bowels contained m the lower belly. f 



7. The spleen also is confined to its place by an adhesion 

 to the peritoneum and diaphragm, and by a connection with 

 the omentum. I It is possible, in my opinion, that the spleen 

 may be merely a stuffing, a soft cushion to fill up a vacancy 

 or hollow, which, unless occupied, would leave the package 

 loose and unsteady ; for, supposing that it answers no othei 

 purpose than this, it must be vascular, and admit o^ a cir- 

 culation through it, in order to be kept alive, or be a part of 

 a .iving body. 



8. The omentum, epiploon, or caul, is an apron tucked 



* Ches. Anat., p. 162. t Keill's Anat., p. ^1. 



% Cbes. Anat, p. 167. 



