THE PERITONEUM. 



901 



to the right, it is reflected over the front of the upper part of the right kidney, 

 across the vena cava inferior and aorta, and over the left kidney to the hilum of 

 the spleen, forming the anterior layer of the lieno-renal ligament, the posterior 

 layer being formed by the termination of the cul-de-sac of the greater cavity be- 

 tween the kidney and spleen. From the hilum of the spleen it is reflected to the 

 stomach, forming the posterior layer of the g astro-splenic amentum. It covers the 

 posterior surface of the stomach, and from its lesser curvature it passes around the 

 portal vein, hepatic artery, and bile-duct, and back again to the stomach, as the 

 lesser omentum, and thus it forms the anterior boundary of the foramen of Wins- 

 low. It now covers the front of the stomach, and upon reaching the cardiac 

 extremity it passes to the hilum of the spleen, forming the anterior layer of the 

 gastro-splenic omentum. From the hilum of the spleen it can be traced over the 

 surface of this organ, to Avhich it gives a serous covering ; it is then reflected from 

 the posterior border of the hilum on to the left kidney, forming the posterior layer 

 of the lieno-renal ligament. 



Lesser omentum. 



ROUND LIGAMENT OF LIVER. 



Hepatic artery, portal 

 (vein, and hepatic duct. 



LIENO-RENAL LIGAMENT. Abdominal aorta. Vena cava. 



FIG. 489. Transverse section of peritoneum. 



Numerous folds, formed by the peritoneum, extend between the various organs 

 or connect them to the parietes. These serve to hold them in position, and at the 

 same time enclose the vessels and nerves proceeding to each part. Some of these 

 folds are called ligaments, such as the ligaments of the liver and the false ligaments 

 of the bladder. Others, which connect certain parts of the intestine with the 

 abdominal wall, constitute the mesenteries ; and lastly, those which proceed from 

 the stomach to certain viscera in its neighborhood are called omenta. 



The Ligaments, formed by folds of the peritoneum, include those of the liver, 

 spleen, bladder, and uterus. They will be found described with their respective 

 organs. 



The Omenta are : the lesser omentum, the great omentum, and the gastro-splenic 

 omentum. 



The lesser omentum (g astro-hepatic] is the duplicature which extends between 

 the transverse fissure of the liver and the lesser curvature of the stomach. It is 

 extremely thin, and consists of two layers of peritoneum : that is, the two layers 



