THE RABBIT. 299 



(Fig. 6 1, ptc), a large vessel, usually gorged with dark blood 

 after death, passing from the pelvis forwards along the ventral 

 aspect of the backbone, through a notch in the liver, to the 

 diaphragm. 



181. The aorta (Figs. 60 and 61, d.ao), a smaller vessel 

 than the postcaval but with thicker walls, of a pinkish 

 colour, and usually containing comparatively little blood after 

 death ; it runs partly behind, partly alongside, the postcaval. 



182. The coeliac artery (ca.a), given off from the aorta 

 about an inch posterior to the diaphragm, and supplying the 

 stomach, liver, spleen, and proximal parts of the duodenum 

 (see 198). 



183. The anterior mesenteric artery (a.m.a), arising 

 from the aorta about half or three-quarters of an inch 

 posterior to the coeliac : it supplies the greater part of both 

 small and large intestine. 



184. The cceliac ganglion, a soft, pinkish-white mass of irregular 

 form, situated just anterior to the origin of the anterior mesenteric 

 artery : it is connected by nerves to the mesenteric ganglion, which 

 lies immediately posterior to the artery. 



185. The splanchnic nerve, emerging from beneath the diaphragm 

 and passing backwards across the aorta to join the coeliac ganglion : it is 

 a branch of the sympathetic ( 239). 



1 86. The gastric branch of the vagus, a small nerve taking a 

 somewhat spiral course round the gullet to the stomach : branches from 

 it join the coeliac ganglion. 



187. The left kidney, a brownish-red body of character- 

 istic shape, just posterior to the anterior mesenteric artery, 



the whole of the systemic arteries are injected : the pulmonary arteries 

 may be filled by proceeding similarly on the right side. The portal 

 vein is readily injected from its branch to the caudate lobe (Fig. 60, cau.), 

 the cannula being directed towards the main trunk. The injection of 

 the systemic veins is more difficult : the precavals can be filled from the 

 external jugular, the postcaval from the external iliac, the caunula, in 

 both cases, being directed towards the heart. 



