PERITONEUM. 



279 



ABDOMINAL VISCERA, SPECIAL STUDY. 



724. Names of Parts in tlie Order of Examination. Perito- 

 neum ; Diaphragma, diaphragm ; Stomaclius, stomach ; Splen, 

 spleen ; Intestinum tenue, small intestine (dnodennm, jejunum, 

 ileum) ; Intestinum amplurn, large intestine (caecum, colon, rec- 

 tum) ; Hepar, liver ; Pancreas ; Ren, kidney ; Urocystis, urinary 

 bladder ; Adrenal, suprarenal capsule ; Uterus, womb ; Ovarium, 

 ovary ; Vas deferens, spermatic duct. 



Instruments and material the same as for the general study. 



Specimen. The same specimen may be used, or it a different 

 one is used, it should be prepared in the same way ( 709). 



PERITONEUM. 



725. Peritoneum. The peritoneum is a serous sac lining the abdomen. It gives 

 the ental aspect of the abdominal wall its smooth, glistening appearance. It may be sep- 

 arated easily from the abdominal wall over a small area with the tracer. 



The peritoneal sac is closed in the male, but in the female the Fallopian tubes open 

 into it, and hence it communicates, through these, with the exterior. 



The mesenteries and the ligaments of the liver, urocystis and uterus are formed by 

 duplicatures of the peritoneum. 



All the organs of the abdomen are really outside of the sac. The apparent presence of 

 some of the organs within it, and the way in which the mesenteries are formed, may be 

 readily understood from the following diagram (Fig. 78). 



This diagram represents an ideal transection of the 

 cat's abdomen at the level of the kidneys. The kidneys 

 (reri) are represented as projecting somewhat into the 

 abdominal cavity, and covered only on their ventral sur- 

 face by the peritoneum. The alimentary canal (AIL 

 canal], shown also in cross section, is represented as 

 having moved far ventrad into the abdominal cavity, 

 carrying with it a fold of peritoneum which forms the 

 mesentery ( 726). 



726. The word mesentery is often used in a general 

 way to indicate any of the duplicatures of peritoneum 

 supporting the intestines ; but strictly speaking, the 

 term refers only to the duplicature of peritoneum sup- 

 porting the portions of the small intestine known a 

 jejunum and ileum. The proper term for the peritoneal 

 duplicature of any other part of the intestine is formed 

 by prefixing meso to the name of the part ; thus, mesa- 

 duodenum, mesocolon, mesorectum, etc. 



FIG, 78, DIAGRAM SHOWING 

 THE RELATIONS OP THE 

 ABDOMINAL ORGANS AND 

 THE PEBITONEUM. 



As shown in Fig. 78, the mesenteries and ligaments are double 

 walled membranes. Demonstrate this by tearing away the mem- 



