ABDOMINAL CAVITY 



379 



contact with the upper part on the anterior surface of the 

 left kidney. The left suprarenal gland, as a rule, occupies a 

 narrow district along the medial border, from the level of the 

 hilum to the summit of the organ. The spleen is in contact 

 over an area immediately adjoining the lateral convex border. 

 The extent of the splenic field varies considerably in different 

 subjects. The pancreas stretches across the left kidney about 

 its middle. The stomach is in contact with the left kidney 

 over the triangular interval which is left between the left 

 suprarenal gland, the spleen, and the pancreas, and that 



Left flexure 

 of the colon 

 (O.T. 

 splenic 

 flexure) 



FIG. 178. Relations of the Left Kidney and the Pancreas. 



portion of the surface is covered with peritoneum of the 

 omental bursa. 



The lower part of the anterior aspect of the left kidney 

 presents a varying relation to the intestinal canal. Towards 

 the lateral border of the organ is the descending colon, whilst 

 more medially the surface is in relation to coils of the small 

 intestine. 



The parts of the anterior surface of the left kidney which 

 are directly covered with peritoneum are the parts above 

 the pancreas in relation with the stomach and the spleen ; 

 the part below the pancreas and to the medial side of the 

 descending colon. 



