THE STOMACH AND SPLEEN. I8I 
III. THE STOMACH AND SPLEEN. 
The cavity disclosed by the division of the abdominal wall is the 
peritoneal cavity (cavum peritonaei), the largest of the four 
great serous sacs representing the primary body-cavity, or coelom 
(p. 98). The major portion of the cavity is abdominal, but it 
extends into the pelvis, and, in the male, also into the scrotal sacs. 
Its lining membrane is that appearing on the body-wall as the 
parietal peritoneum, noted above, and on the visceral structures 
as the visceral peritoneum (peritonaeum viscerale). The 
visceral structures here include the major portions of the digestive 
and urinogenital systems. 
The general relations of the visceral peritonaeum should first be 
examined by raising a portion of the small intestine from the left 
side of the visceral mass. Note its enclosure by a complete serous 
coat, similar in appearance to the membrane covering the body 
wall, and the extension of the lacter into a mesentery for the 
support of the structure from the dorsal body-wall. Note the 
parallel arrangement of the arteries and veins, and also their 
frequent anastomoses. Lymphatic vessels (lacteal vessels) 
accompany the bloodvessels in the mesentery, but being trans- 
parent are not readily recognizable. Lymph nodes also occur, 
but in this portion of the mesentery they are aggregated at its 
dorsal attachment, or root (radix mesenteril). 
‘ 
For the general relations of the stomach see p. 82 and Fig. 42. 
1. Displace the posteroventral portion of the liver forward, 
exposing in this way the ventral surface of the stomach. Without 
injuring the enclosing peritoneum, examine the contour of the organ 
and its divisions, as follows: 
(a) The greater curvature (curvatura ventriculi major), its 
convex posterior surface. 
(b) The lesser curvature (curvatura ventriculi minor), the 
contracted, concave anterior surface. 
(c) The main portion, or body of the stomach (corpus ventriculi). 
It lies for the most part to the left of the median plane. 
(d) The cardia, or area of junction with the oesophagus. 
(e) The fundus, a small sac-like portion lying to the left of the 
cardia 
