226 ANATOMY OF THE ABDOMEN. 



may be thus stated : — the large intestines occupy the in- 

 ferior of the abdomen, as well as a considerable part of its 

 sides. The caecum {Plate XL A) rests its large blind 

 end within the right hypochondriac, behind the origin of the 

 colon (Plate XL B), lying upon the linea alba. The point 

 of the ceecuni being curved forward until it reaches the 

 region mentioned ; and it is usually the first of the intes- 

 tines to protrude, upon opening the abdomen of the horse. 

 When the large intestines are removed from the abdomen, 

 the small intestines {Plate XL D), which in a natural state 

 lie above and behind the large, come entirely into view ; their 

 situation is within the two last regions, and partly within 

 the first division of the abdomen. The stomach {Plate IV. 

 G) will be found to occupy the left hypochondriac, and 

 partly the epigastric regions. The liver {Plate IV. J) is 

 attached to the diaphragm in the epigastric, and two hypo- 

 chondriac regions, though but a small portion of it is within 

 the left hypochondriac. The renal capsules and kidneys 

 {Plate IV. D) occupy the lumbar regions : and the bladder, 

 with the parts of generation, occupy the pubic and hypo- 

 gastric regions in the mare and horse. 



The peritoneum is a strong dense serous membranous 

 lining to the abdomen, as well as an investiture and support 

 to its contents, facilitating their movements as they glide 

 upon or over one another. It also secretes a vapour, and 

 thus, like the pleura, favours motion and prevents friction ; 

 the vapour vanishing, and dryness being present at the com- 

 mencement of inflammation, then the motion of its contents 

 is accompanied with intense agony. It may be traced from 

 its anterior connexion with the diaphragm, whose posterior 

 or abdominal surface it partially covers, on to the liver. 

 Without being over minute, it is sufficient to say it passes 

 over all the contents of the abdomen, from the diaphragm to 

 the pelvis, covering only a portion of the uterus, the bladder, 

 and the rectum. In the male it penetrates down the abdo- 

 minal rings ; invests the spermatic chords and the testicles, 

 as well as lines the scrotum. Its folds also form ligaments, 

 as those of the liver ; and act as supports to particular parts, 

 as the mesentery to the intestines ; within the duplicature 

 of which run arteries, veins, nerves, absorbents, as well as 

 are located numerous small glands, through one or more of 



