ABDOMINAL CAVITY 305 



directed forwards, as well as upwards, and is covered, to a 

 large extent, by the left lobe of the liver. Below and to the 

 left of the sharp margin of the liver, however, a considerable 

 portion of the superior surface of the stomach is in apposition 

 partly with the diaphragm, and partly with the posterior 

 aspect of the anterior abdominal wall. 



The inferior surface of the stomach is flatter than the 

 superior surface, and is supported by a slightly curved and 

 sloping shelf, which projects forwards from the posterior wall 

 of the abdomen. This has been appropriately called, by 



Oesophagus 



Uuodeno-pyloric 

 constriction"" 



FIG. 143. Outline of the upper aspect of the Stomach of a Child which has 

 been hardened in situ by formalin injection. It is the outline of the 

 upper surface of the stomach figured on p. 269. 



Birmingham, the stomach-bed. It is formed by the following 

 structures, all of which are related to the lower surface of 

 the organ : (i) the diaphragm ; (2) the gastric surface of the 

 spleen ; (3) the left suprarenal gland and a varying amount 

 of the upper part of the left kidney ; (4) the anterior surface 

 of the pancreas ; (5) the transverse meso-colon ; and (6) the 

 transverse colon. A niche of the great sac of the peritoneum 

 intervenes between the stomach and the spleen (Fig. 135), and 

 the omental bursa separates it from the left suprarenal gland, 

 the kidney (Fig. 136), the pancreas, and colon, whilst the 

 transverse meso-colon intervenes between it and the coils of 

 the small intestine. 



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