ABDOMINAL CAVITY 365 



the fossa venae cavae on the posterior surface of the liver. Raise 

 the liver as much as possible, and, to the right of the inferior vena 

 cava, cut through the layer of the peritoneum which is reflected 

 from the lower part of the posterior surface of the liver to the 

 diaphragm. That layer is the lower layer of the coronary liga- 

 ment. At the base of the liver the lower layer of the coronary 

 ligament becomes continuous with the right triangular liga- 

 ment, which must also be divided. After the right triangular 

 ligament is divided, pull the liver downwards as far as possible, 

 and cut through the falciform ligament, which connects the 

 anterior and superior surfaces of the liver to the anterior 

 abdominal wall and to the diaphragm. Divide that ligament 

 from before backwards, and note, as its posterior extremity 

 is approached, that its right lateral layer becomes continuous 

 with the upper layer of the coronary ligament, which passes 

 from the posterior border of the upper surface of the liver to the 

 diaphragm. Divide that layer from right to left, and be careful 

 not to injure the upper part of the abdominal portion of the 

 inferior vena cava, which lies immediately behind it, a little 

 to the right of the line of attachment of the falciform ligament. 

 Now, with the right hand, pull the right lobe of the liver forwards 

 and to the left, detaching its posterior surface from the dia- 

 phragm with the fingers of the left hand, until the right border 

 of the fossa for the inferior vena cava is reached ; then separate 

 the vena cava from the fossa, with the fingers, from below 

 upwards, until the large hepatic veins are reached as they pass 

 out of the upper part of the posterior surface of the liver into 

 the anterior wall of the inferior vena cava, immediately below 

 the diaphragm. Divide those veins carefully with the knife 

 and remove the right lobe of the liver from the abdomen. 



After the right lobe of the liver has been removed from the 

 abdomen, attach the left lobe to it with long pins, and study the 

 various surfaces and parts of the gland with the utmost care. 



The Surfaces of the Liver. The anterior surface, and the 

 base or right lateral surface, are smooth, convex, and covered 

 with peritoneum. They are separated from each other by a 

 rounded and indistinct border. 



The Base is in relation with the right part of the diaphragm, 

 from the level of the seventh to the level of the eleventh rib, 

 in the mid-axillary line ; and it is separated by the diaphragm 

 from the lower part of the right pleural sac and right lung. 



The Anterior Surface is in relation with the anterior part 

 of the diaphragm, on each side of the sub-costal angle, and, 

 opposite the sub-costal angle, with the posterior surfaces of 

 the sheaths of the recti muscles ; and the lower border of the 

 falciform ligament is attached to it nearer to its left than to 

 its right extremity. 



The Superior Surface is smooth also and it is covered with 

 peritoneum. On the right and on the left, where it fits into 

 the corresponding cupolae of the diaphragm, and is separated 



