896 



THE ORGANS OF DIGESTION. 



The middle region of the upper zone is called the epigastric (^', over 

 the stomach) ; and the two lateral regions, the right and left Jiypochondriac (UTTO, 

 under ; xovfipoe, the cartilages). The central region of the middle zone is the 

 umbilical; and the two lateral regions, the right and left lumbar. The middle 

 region of the lower zone is the hypogastric or pubic region ; and the lateral regions 

 are the right and left inguinal or iliac. The viscera contained in these different 

 regions are the following (Fig. 487). 



Right Hypochondriac. 



The greater part of 

 right lobe of the liver, 

 the hepatic flexure of the 

 colon, and part of the 

 right kidney. 



Right Lumbar. 



Ascending colon, part 

 of the right kidney, and 

 some convolutions of the 

 small intestines. 



Right Inguinal (Iliac}. 



The caecum and vermi- 

 form appendix. 



Epigastric Region. 



The greater part of the 

 stomach, including both 

 cardiac and pyloric ori- 

 fices, the left lobe and 

 part of the right lobe of 

 the liver and the gall- 

 bladder, the pancreas, the 

 duodenum, the suprarenal 

 capsules, and parts of the 

 kidneys. 



Umbilical Region. 



The transverse colon, 

 part of the great omentum 

 and mesentery, transverse 

 part of the duodenum, and 

 some convolutions of the 

 jejunum and ileum, and 

 part of both kidneys. 



Hypogastric Region. 



Convolutions of the 

 small intestines, the blad- 

 der in children, and in 

 adults if distended, and the 

 uterus during pregnancy. 



Left Hypochondriac. 



The fundus of the 

 stomach, the spleen and 

 extremity of the pancreas, 

 the splenic flexure of the 

 colon, and part of the 

 left kidney. 



Left Lumbar. 



Descending colon, part 

 of the omentum, part of 

 the left kidney, and some 

 convolutions of the small 

 intestines. 



Left Inguinal (Iliac). 



Sigmoid flexure of the 

 colon. 



If the anterior abdominal wall is reflected in the form of four triangular flaps 

 by means of vertical and transverse incisions the former from the ensiform carti- 

 lage to the symphysis pubis, the latter from flank to flank at the level of the 

 umbilicus the abdominal or peritoneal cavity is freely opened into and the 

 contained viscera are in part exposed. 1 



Above and to the right side is the liver, situated chiefly under the shelter of 

 the right ribs and their cartilages, but extending across the middle line, and reach- 

 ing for some distance below the level of the ensiform cartilage. Below and to the 

 left of* the liver is the stomach, from the lower border of which an apron-like fold 

 of peritoneum, the great omentum, descends for a varying distance, and obscures, 

 to a greater or lesser extent, the other viscera. Below it, however, some of the coils 

 of the small intestine can generally be seen, while in the right and left iliac regions 

 respectively the caecum and the sigmoid flexure of the colon are exposed. The 

 bladder occupies the anterior part of the pelvis, and, if distended, will project 



from symphysis pnbis to ensiform cartilage; (2) two lateral lines drawn vertically through a point 

 midway between the anterior superior iliac spine and the symphysis pubis; (3) an upper transverse 

 line halfway between the symphysis pubis and the supra-sternal notcb ; and (4) a lower transverse 

 line midway between the last and the upper border of the symphysis pubis. 



1 It must be borne in mind that, although the term abdominal cavity is used, there is, under 

 normal conditions, only a potential cavity or lymph-space, since the viscera are everywhere in 

 contact with the parietes. 



