Elementary Anatomy of a Hound 47 



the bowels, lines the belly cavity, and is reflected over 

 other organs contained therein and in the backward 

 prolongation of the latter, i.e., the pelvic cavity. 



The stomach serves as a receptacle for food, 

 to secrete the gastric juice and to prepare the 

 food for intestinal digestion. The indigestible sub- 

 stances (bones, etc.) consumed by carnivora render it 

 necessary to have a free acid secretion in the stomach 

 and that this acid shall have a prolonged action; 

 consequently we find that in the dog both conditions 

 are present. The acid secreted by the gastric glands 

 is hydrochloric, but there is also mucous secreting 

 glands situated in different portions of the lining 

 membrane — mucous membrane — which is thick and 

 of a reddish or brown colour nearest to the gullet, 

 but lighter towards the pyloric or intestinal end. 



During digestion the mucous membrane is bright 

 red. In addition to the mucous Hning there is a 

 muscular coat, the fibres of which are arranged in two 

 directions, and on the outside of this a serous coat. 



The contraction of the muscular fibres of the wall 

 of the stomach aids the expulsion of the food into 

 the intestine. 



The outlet of the stomach has its opening guarded 

 by circular muscular fibres, forming what is called the 

 pyloric sphincter, which opens into the beginning of 

 the intestine, the first few inches of which being 

 known as the duodenum, and in this portion of the 



