148 



VISCERAL ANATOMY. 



diaphragm to the cardiac orifice of the stomach, opposite the pth dorsal 

 vertebra, where it terminates. It lies in the neck, between the trachea and 

 the vertebral column, resting in part on the longus colli muscle; then 

 inclining to the left side it reaches the posterior mediastinum behind the left 

 bronchus. 



Describe its Structure. The CEsophagus has three coats, a 



Mucous, in thick longitudinal folds, containing compound racemose glands, 

 and covered with a thick layer of squamous epithelium. 



Cellular, forms a loose connection between the other two coats, and con- 

 tains the cesophageal vessels. 



Muscular, having longitudinal fibres externally, circular fibres internally, 

 which are continuous with the fibres of the stomach below, and with those 

 of the inferior constrictor muscle above. 

 Name its Vessels and Nerves. The CEsophageal 



Arteries, are chiefly branches from the thoracic aorta. 



Veins, empty into the vena azygos minor. 



Nerves, are branches of the pneumogastric and the cervical sympathetic, form- 

 ing the CEsophageal Plexus. 



THE STOMACH. 



Describe the Stomach. It is the principal organ of digestion, pyriform 

 in shape, of musculo-membranous structure, about 12 inches long by 4 inches 

 in average diameter, held in position by the lesser omentum, and situated 

 diagonally across the upper abdomen, in the epigastric and right and left hypo- 

 chondriac regions, above the transverse colon, below the liver and diaphragm. 

 It presents for examination a 



Fundus or Splenic End, c connected to the spleen by the gastro-splenic 

 omentum. (See under PERITONEUM.) 



Pylorus or Lesser End, lies 

 in contact with the anterior 

 wall of the abdomen, the 

 under surface of the liver, 

 and the neck of the gall- 

 bladder, its position being 

 near the end of the carti- 

 lage of the 8th rib. 

 Greater Curvature, 1 * is con- 

 vex, and is connected to the 

 colon by the gastro-colic 

 omentum. (See under PERI- 

 TONEUM.) 



