
186 ANATOMY OF THE RABBIT. 
organ by means of an incision extending around the greater curva- 
ture to the oesophagus. 
On the cut end of the pyloric antrum the mucous and muscular 
tunics (cf. Fig. 16) may be distinguished and separated from one 
another by dividing the loose tissue of the tela submucosa. On the 
surface of the mucous tunic may be seen the gastric areas (areae 
gastricae), formed by the longitudinal folds and imperfect transverse 
ridges which tend to connect them. They are well marked only 
in the contracted condition of the stomach. The mucous tunic 
of the stomach is sharply differentiated from that of the oesophagus. 
IV. THE LIVER. 
The liver (hepar) is noteworthy, first, as being the largest of the 
glandular structures of the body, and, secondly, as containing, in 
addition to the primary circulation formed by the hepatic artery 
and veins, the ramifications of the portal system. It is an appen- 
dage of the digestive tube, its connection with the l4tter being 
through the common bile duct. 
For the general relations of the liver, see p. 23 and Fig. 42. 
1. Examine the contour and plan of division as follows: 
(a) The convex anterior surface, applied to the diaphragm; 
the concave posterior surface fitting the convexity of the 
stomach; the thickened dorsal portion of the organ, and its 
thin posteroventral margin. 
(b) The division of the organ into right and left lobes, and of 
each lobe into anterior and posterior lobules. 
(c) The gall bladder (vesica fellea), situated on the ee OS 
surface of the right anterior lobule. 
(d) The quadrate lobe (lobus quadratus), represented by one 
or more small divisions of the medial margins of left and right 
anterior lobules. 
(e) The caudate lobe (lobus caudatus), a small independent 
lobe projecting backward from the base of the left posterior 
lobule, and accommodated in the natural condition in the 
space enclosed by the lesser curvature of the stomach. 
(f) The portal fissure (porta hepatis), a large depression at 
the point of entrance of the portal vein. 
