THE STOMACH. 



465 



Relations.— T\\e external form of the rumen being determineil, the study of its relations 

 becomes easy. By its superior aurfu'-e, it is in contact with the iiite>tiniil mass; its opposite 

 fjwje rests on the inferior ahdominal wall. Its left bortlt-r, supportinjx ilie sph-eu, touches the 

 most elevated part of the Hank and the subliimbar region, to whic.i it udher. a by cellular 

 tissue, as well as the vicinity of the coeiiac trunk and the great mesenteric artery; the right 

 border, margined by the abomasum, responds to the most declivitous portion of the right hypo- 

 chondriiic and Hank, as well as to the intestinal circumvolutions. The anterior extremity, 

 bounded by the reticulum and omasum, advances close to the diaphragm; the posterior occupies 

 the entrance to the pelvic cavity, where it is more or less in contact with the geuito-urinary 

 organs lodged there In the pregnant female, the uterus is prolonged forwards on tlie up|)er 

 fare of the viscus just described. 



Interior (Fig. '2G9). — In the interior of tlie rumen are found Incomplete septa, which repeat 

 the division into two sacs already so marked externally These septa are two in number, and 

 represent large muscular pillars, winch currispond inferiorly to the notches described at the 

 extremities of the organ. The anterior pillar (Fig. 269, g) sends to the inferior wall of 



Fig. 269. 



INTERIOR OF THE STOMACH IN RCMIN.\NTS. SHOWING THE UPPER PLANE OF THE RUMEN AND 

 RETICULUM, WITH THE lESOPHAGRAL FURROW. 



A, Left sac of the rumen; B, anterior e.xtremity of that sac turned back on the light sac; C, its 

 posterior extremity, or left conical pouch ; G, section of the anterior pillar of the rumen ; g, g, its 

 two superior branches; H, posterior pillar of the same; h, k, h, its three inferior branches; I, 

 cells of the reticulum; j, oesophageal furrow ; K, oesophagus; L, abomasum. 



the rumen a strong prolongation, directed backwards, and to the left ; it is continued on the 

 superior wall by two branche.'*, which separate at an acute angle. The posterior pillar (Fig. 

 269, h). more voluminous than the preceding, has three branches at each of its extremities — a 

 middle and two laternl. The middle branches are carried forwards on the limit of the two 

 sacs, which they separate frfim one another ; that from above meets the corresponding branch 

 from the anterior pillar. The lateral branches diverge to the right and lett in describing a 

 curve, and in circumscribing the entrance to the conical cj-sts, which they transform into two 

 compartments distinct from the middle portion of the sac of the rumen: the inferior go to 

 meet the superior branches, but do not altogether join them. 



The internal surface of the rumen is cover.-d by a multitude of papillary prolongations, 

 dependencies of the mucous membrane. To the right, and in the ruls-de-sao, these papillae 

 are remarkable for tht ir number, their enormous development, and their general foliated shape. 

 On the left side they are more rare, particularly on the superior wall, and only form very 



