ABDOMINAL CAVITY 277 



appearance of a blind diverticulum clothed on all sides 

 with peritoneum ; that the transverse colon and the pelvic 

 colon are attached to the posterior wall of the abdomen by 

 folds of peritoneum called mesenteries ; that the vermiform 

 process is attached to the posterior surface of the mesentery 

 of the ileum by a fold of peritoneum called the mesentery of 

 the vermiform process (O.T. meso- appendix) ; and that the 

 remaining parts of the large intestine are not, as a rule, pro- 

 vided with mesenteries, but that they lie against the posterior 

 wall of the abdomen, projecting forwards against the periton- 

 eum, which covers them only anteriorly and on the sides. He 

 should also note that portions of both the large and the 

 small intestine lie in the pelvis minor. The parts of the 

 small intestine in that situation are usually the lower coils of 

 the ileum, and the parts of the large intestine are the pelvic 

 colon and the rectum. 



After the dissector has familiarised himself with the 

 positions, continuity, and attachments of the various parts of 

 the abdominal portion of the alimentary canal he should 

 proceed to locate the kidneys. Throw the omentum upwards, 

 pull the small intestine downwards and to the right, and 

 examine the concavity of the left flexure of the colon, where 

 a considerable part of the lower portion of the left kidney can 

 be seen and felt, as it lies behind the peritoneum. Pull the 

 small intestine over to the left and downwards, examine the 

 concavity of the right flexure of the colon, and note that 

 only a small part of the lower portion of the right kidney can 

 be felt and seen in that situation, behind the peritoneum. 

 Replace the small intestine and the omentum, pull the liver 

 upwards and to the right, and the greater part of the upper 

 portion of the right kidney will be exposed or can be felt in 

 the region immediately above the right flexure of the colon. 

 Replace the liver and pass the hand backwards into the 

 posterior part of the left hypochondrium, to the back of 

 the spleen, and palpate the upper and lateral part of the 

 left kidney, as it lies against the diaphragm. 



The positions and connections of the various viscera 

 must now be studied in greater detail. Commence with 

 the consideration of the liver. 



Hepar (The Liver). The liver has already been seen 

 in the subcostal angle and projecting below the right 

 costal margin. It is the largest gland in the body, and is 



