148 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY 



inal wall; the meso-rectum connects the rectum with the pelvic wall; the 

 large mesentery holds the ileum and jejunum to the posterior abdominal wall. 



An omentum is a fold of peritoneum connected with the stomach. The 

 greater omentum hangs from the greater curvature; the lesser omentum connects 

 the lesser curvature with the liver (being called the gastrohepatic omentum) ; 

 and the gastrosplenic omentum connects the stomach and spleen. (Two 

 layers of peritoneum pass from the under surface of the liver to the lesser 

 curvature of the stomach, forming the lesser omentum. They then separate 

 to enclose the surfaces of the stomach, making its serous coat. They come 

 together again at the greater curvature and hang down in the shape of a large 

 serous sac with double walls, the greater omentum, which hangs in front of the 

 small intestine.) 



Note. The transverse meso-colon usually becomes adherent to the greater 

 omentum (Fig. 112). 



THE PANCREAS 



The pancreas (Figs. 109, no) is a racemose gland, behind and 

 below the stomach. It is about seven inches long and somewhat 

 resembles a hammer in shape, the head being turned to the right 

 and lying within the curve of the duodenum, the body crossing to 

 the left, and the tail reaching the spleen. It consists of lobules, 

 each with its duct; these unite to form the pancreatic duct which 

 conveys the pancreatic fluid to the duodenum. The duct opens 

 (with the common bile duct) into the duodenum about four inches 

 from the pylorus (guarded by a valve). 



The three pancreatic ferments are amylopsin, trypsin and 

 steapsin (ior'starch, proteid and fat) (see page 161). 



THE LIVER 



The liver (Fig. 112) is the largest abdominal organ, and the 

 largest gland in the body. Its normal weight is between three 

 and four pounds (1300 to 1700 grams). It is underneath the dia- 

 phragm, in the right upper portion of the abdomen, the thin left 

 lobe extending across the epigastric region above the stomach. 

 Its general shape is that of a wedge, much thicker at the right side 

 than the left, and with the thin edge turned forward. The upper 

 surface is convex, and marked off by a ligament into two lobes, 

 right and left. The lower surface is divided by five fissures into 

 five lobes. The largest fissure is the transverse, the porta (or gate) 

 for the passage of vessels, 1 nerves and ducts. 



1 Lymph vessels and hepatic artery. Hepatic veins take a different route. 



