374 



ABDOMEN 



inferior vena 

 cava 



Outline 

 of kidney 



Surface separated from 

 liver by peritoneum 



FIG. 174. Anterior Surface of Right Suprarenal 

 Gland. 



The anterior surface presents, not far from its lower end, a 

 very obvious hilum with a large emerging vein. The greater 



part of this 



uprarenai vein surface is separ- 

 ated from the 

 postero -inferior 



SUrfaCC of the 



stomach by the 

 posterior wall 

 and the cavity 

 of the omental 

 bursa, and it 

 forms a portion 

 of the stomach 

 bed. The lower 

 portion of the 

 anterior surface 

 is covered by 



the pancreas and crossed by the splenic vessels, and is not in 



relation to the peritoneum. Occasionally the spleen extends 



so far medially that it lies in relation to the upper part of the 



anterior surface of the left suprarenal gland (see Fig. 155, 



p. 334), but that condition 



is uncommon. The posterior 



surface is subdivided into 



two areas by a curved ridge, 



as on the right side. The 



upper area is flat, and lies 



against the left crus of the 



diaphragm ; the lower area 



is hollowed out and is in 



relation to the kidney, a 



considerable amount of fat 



intervening. 



Suprarenal vein 



FIG. 175. Anterior Surface of Left 

 Suprarenal Gland. 



The dissectors have already 

 observed the abundant nerve 

 supply to the suprarenal glands 

 from the coeliac plexus. Their 

 blood supply is equally rich. No fewer than three arteries enter the sub- 

 stance of each, viz. the superior ^ middle , and inferior suprarenal arteries, 



When a section is made through the suprarenal gland it is seen to 

 consist of an external, firm portion, termed the cortex, and of a soft, pulpy, 

 dark-coloured internal substance, called the medullary part. 



