CONNECTIONS OF STOMACH- 431 



The pelvic portion is situate below the brim of the pelvis, and contains 

 chiefly the generative and urinary organs. 



The following description concerns the part of the cavity between the 

 diaphragm and the brim of the pelvis. Towards the end of the dissection 

 of the abdomen, the pelvic portion will receive a separate notice. 



Regions. The upper part of the abdominal cavity is divided into re- 

 gions by lines extended between certain points of the parietes. 



If two circular lines are carried round the body, so that one shall be 

 opposite the cartilage of the ninth rib, and the other on a level with the 

 most prominent point of the crest of the hip-bone, the cavity will be 

 divided into three circles or zones, upper, middle, and lower. 



Each of these circles has been further subdivided into three by a line, 

 on each side, from the cartilage of the eighth rib to the centre of Poupart's 

 ligament. The piece marked off, on each side, from the three circles by 

 the vertical line is named respectively, from above downwards, hypochon- 

 driac, lumbar, and iliac ; whilst the central part of each circle is desig- 

 nated from above down, epigastric, umbilical, and hypogastric. 



In addition, the middle and lower part of the hypogastric space is 

 named pubic region, w r hilst the contiguous portions of the hypogastric and 

 iliac parts constitute the inguinal region. 



Contents and their position. The alimentary tube, the liver, pancreas, 

 spleen, and kidney, occupy the abdomen proper. 



The alimentary tube presents differences in form, and is divided into 

 stomach, small intestine, and large intestine ; and the two last are further 

 subdivided, as it will afterwards appear. The several viscera have the 

 following general position : The small intestine is much coiled, and occu- 

 pies the greater part of the cavity ; whilst the great intestine arches 

 around it. Both are fixed in position by pieces of the serous lining. 

 Above the arch of the great intestine are situate the stomach, the liver, 

 the spleen, and the pancreas ; and below it, is the convoluted small gut. 

 Behind the large intestine, on each side, is the kidney with its excretory 

 tube. 



Superficial view of the contents. On first opening the abdomen the 

 following viscera appear : On the right side is the liver, which is partly 

 concealed by the ribs. On the left side a piece of the stomach is visible ; 

 but this viscus lies for the most part beneath the ribs and the liver. De- 

 scending from the stomach is a fold of peritoneum (the large omentum), 

 which reaches to the pelvis, and conceals the small intestine : in some 

 bodies the omentum is raised into the left hypochondriac region, and leaves 

 the intestine uncovered. 



If the bladder is distended, a small part of it may come into view just 

 above the pelvis, but commonly it is not seen. 



Before the natural position of the viscera is disturbed, their situation in 

 the different regions of the abdomen, and their connections with surround- 

 ing parts should be examined. 



CONNECTIONS OF THE VISCERA. 



The stomach (fig. 142, a) intervenes between the gullet and the small 

 intestine, and is partly retained in position by pieces of the serous mem- 

 brane. It is somewhat of a conical form, with the larger end to the left 

 side ; and it occupies the left hypochondriac, the epigastric, and part of 

 the right hypochondriac region. 



