THE LIVER. 



153 



sacral plexus ; and to its left lie the left ureter and branches of the left 

 internal iliac artery. 



Middle Part (3 inches), in the male subject lies just behind the trigonum 

 vesioe and the vesiculye seminales, and close below the under surface of 

 the prostate gland. In the female it is adherent to the central portion of 

 the posterior wall of the vagina. 



Lower Part (i inch), is surrounded by the 3 sphincters and the levator 

 ani muscle, and is separated by the perineum from the membranous por- 

 tion and bulb of the urethra in the male, from the vagina in the female. 



THE LIVER. 



Describe the Liver. It is the largest gland in the body, weighing from 

 3 to 4 pounds, measuring transversely about 12 inches, antero-posteriorly 6 

 inches, in greatest thickness 3 inches. It is situated in the right hypochon- 

 driac, epigastric and part of the left hypochondriac regions ; has 5 fissures, 5 

 lobes, 5 ligaments, and 5 sets of vessels, and is invested by peritoneum, except 

 for a small space at the attachment of the coronary ligament. It is also sur- 

 rounded by a fibrous coat which is continuous at the transverse fissure with the 

 capsule of Glisson. Its 



Upper Surface, is convex, in relation with the under surface of the dia- 

 phragm and 6 or 7 lower ribs, and is divided into two lobes by the sus- 

 pensory or broad ligament. 



Under Surface (Fig. 73), is concave, covers the stomach, duodenum, hepatic 

 flexure of colon, 

 right kidney and 

 supra-renal capsule, 

 and is divided into 

 5 lobes by 5 fissures. 

 Anterior Border y c 

 sharp and notched 

 opposite the fundus 

 of the gall-bladder 

 and the round and cc] 

 falciform ligaments. 

 It corresponds to the 

 lower border of the 

 ribs and costal carti- 

 lages, descending a little lower during deep inspiration and in the upright 

 posture. 



Posterior Border,^ rounded, and deeply grooved ("sometimes channeled) 

 for the inferior vena 



FIG. 73. 



