THE SMALL INTESTINE. 



145 



diately above it. Over-distension of the stomach, due to 

 indigestion or flatulency, may press up the diaphragm 

 and interfere with the 

 proper working of the 

 thoracic organs, causing 

 feelings of oppression 

 in the chest, or palpita- 

 tion of the heart. 



The Small Intestine 

 commences at the pylo- 

 J rus and ends, after many 

 windings, in the large. 

 It is about twenty feet 

 (six meters) long and 

 about two inches (five 

 centimeters) wide at its 

 gastric end, narrowing 

 to about two thirds of 

 that width at its lower 

 portion. ; Externally 

 there are no lines of sub- 

 division on the small in- 

 testine, but anatomists 

 arbitrarily describe it as 



FIG. 49. Diagram of abdominal part of 

 al. C. tlie cardiac, and P, the 



stomach; D, the duode- 

 num; J, /, the convolutions of the small in- 

 COnSlStlDg Of three parts, testine; CO, the caecum with the vermiform 

 J.-I o 1-1 appendix; AC, ascending, TC, transverse, and 



the nrst twelve inches DC, descending colon ; jff, the rectum. 



being the duodenum, the succeeding two fifths of the re- 

 mainder the jejunum, and the rest the ileum. 



*r 



Why is it that an over-distended stomach sometimes causes palpi- 

 tation of the heart? 



Where does the small intestine commence? Where does it end? 

 Describe its length and diameter. Of what divisions do anatomists 

 describe it as consisting? 



