360 ABDOMEN 



The gastric surface is the largest of the three visceral 

 areas. It is deeply concave, and is moulded upon the 

 fundus and the upper part of the posterior surface of the 

 body of the stomach. Within its area, a short distance 

 in front of the margo intermedius which separates it from 

 the renal surface, there is a longitudinal cleft, the hilum, 

 through which the vessels and nerves enter and leave 

 the organ. The hilum is not uncommonly broken up into 

 several segments. Behind the hilum, and immediately in 

 front of the intermediate angle, there is a pancreatic impression 



Intermediate angle 



FIG. 169. The Spleen (visceral aspect). 



of very variable depth and extent, in which the tail of the 

 pancreas rests. 



The renal surface is also concave. It is of variable extent, 

 and is applied to the lateral portion of the upper part of the 

 anterior surface of the left kidney and to the adjacent part 

 of the lateral border of the kidney. It is separated from the 

 gastric surface by the margo intermedius, and from the dia- 

 phragmatic surface by the posterior border which extends 

 from the superior to the posterior angle. 



The colic surface is usually the smallest of the three visceral 

 surfaces. It lies immediately above the inferior border, which 

 separates it from the diaphragmatic surface, and between the 



