ABDOMINAL CAVITY 



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shows, at once, that whilst the position of the fundus remains 

 constant, and that of the pylorus is relatively constant, the 

 other parts of the organ vary considerably in size and position, 

 and that the lowest part of the organ instead of remaining in 

 the costal zone of the abdominal cavity frequently descends 

 into the umbilical region, whilst Fig. 126 shows that the form 

 of the stomach met with in dissecting-room subjects is also 

 very variable. After examining the stomach the dissector 

 should look for the spleen. 



Lien (The Spleen). If the spleen is of normal size and is 



FIG. 126. Anterior views of six Stomachs removed from dissecting-room 

 subjects. A, (Esophagus ; B, Pylorus. 



lying in its normal position, it cannot be seen, when the 

 abdominal organs are undisturbed, but it can easily be felt if 

 the hand is passed backwards, round the left margin of the 

 stomach, into the posterior part of the left hypochondriac 

 region, and it can be brought into view by pulling the stomach 

 towards the right side. When that has been done the spleen 

 will be found to be attached to the stomach by a fold of 

 peritoneum called the gas fro-splenic ligament (omentum) and 

 it is attached to the anterior surface of the left kidney, 

 which can easily be felt, behind the spleen, by a fold of 

 peritoneum called the lieno-renal ligament. The dissector 

 should note that the lower end of the spleen is supported by 



