162 
of the oval space inclosed by the coronary liga- 
ment. This fissure is always very deep and 
surrounds the vena cava for two-thirds or three- 
‘fourths of its cylinder. Sometimes it is con- 
verted into a canal by a thin layer which is 
stretched across it from the lobus Spigelii to 
the contiguous border of the right lobe. The 
hepatic veins pour their blood into this portion 
of the vena cava. 
These five fissures taken collectively, namely, 
the longitudinal fissure and fissure for the 
ductus venosus on the left, the fissures for the 
|-bladder and vena cava on the right, with 
e transverse fissure passing between them, are 
represented by Meckel as resembling the letter 
H, whereof the transverse bar is placed nearer 
to the posterior than to the anterior extremity. 
Viewing them in this way the two anterior 
branches are, the longitudinal fissure on the 
left and the fossa for the gall-bladder on the 
right; and the two posterior are, the fissure 
for the ductus venosus on the left, and the 
fissure for the vena cava on the right. 
The existence of these five fissures upon 
the under surface of the liver causes its division 
into as many portions, which are named lobes, 
viz. the right, the left, the lobus quadratus, 
the lobus Spigelii, and the lobus caudatus. 
The right lobe, (fig. 32, 1, fig. 33, 
16,) (lobus major) is the largest division 
of the liver, and forms the whole of the bulky 
right extremity of the organ. It is convex 
upon its upper surface and irregularly con- 
cave below; at its right extremity and be- 
hind it is thick and rounded, and thin and 
sharp in front. It is separated from the left 
lobe on its convex surface by the broad liga- 
ment; beneath by the longitudinal fissure and 
fissure for the ductus venosus, and in front by 
the notch on the free margin of the liver. The 
transverse fissure and the fissures for the vena 
cava and gall-bladder are situated on the under 
surface of this lobe and serve to limit the 
boundaries of the three minor lobes ; the lobus 
yar Spigelii, and caudatus. Upon 
is surface it is marked by three depressions, 
one in front, of large size, for the right ex- 
tremity of the transverse colon, and two behind, 
one for the right supra-renal capsule and ano- 
ther for the right kidney. 
The left lobe (fig. 32, 2, fig. 33, 17,) 
(lobus minor) is four or six times smaller than 
the right; flattened in form, and thinned to- 
wards its circumference into a sharp margin. 
It is divided from the right lobe by the broad 
ligament above, by the notch in the anterior 
margin of the liver in front, and by the longi- 
tudinal fissure and fissure for the ductus ve- 
nosus below. seperti it is convex and in 
relation with the diaphragm, to which it is con- 
nected by the left lateral ligament, and infe- 
riorly it is concave, and presents a broad and 
shallow depression which rests upon the ante- 
rior surface of the stomach. By its extremity 
it sometimes touches the spleen, and by its 
posterior border corresponds with the termina- 
tion of the esophagus and with the right pneu- 
mogastric nerve, 
he lobus quadratus (fig. 33, 18,) (ante- 
NORMAL ANATOMY OF THE LIVER. 
rior | eminence) is a quadrilateral a 
slightly elevated division situated upon 
under surface of the right lobe near to- 
middle line of the liver. It is bounded a 
riorly by the free margin of the organ, po 
riorly by the transverse fissure, to the le! 
the longitudinal fissure, and on the right b 
fossa for the gall-bladder. ‘. 
The lobus Spigelii (fig. 33, 20,) (po: 
portal eminence) is a prominent conic 
smaller than the preceding, and sit 
the posterior border of the liver, b 
two layers of the lesser omentum. Its b 
triangular, and bounded in front by the 
verse fissure ; on the left side by the f 
the ductus venosus, and on the right 
fissure for the vena cava and lobus 
which last connects it with the under su 
the right lobe. By its anterior border} 
relation with the portal vein, by its left 
with the fibrous cord of the ductus ve 
and by the right with the venacava. It 
terior extremity is received into the at 
communication between the fibrous core 
ductus venosus and the vena cava. 
The lobus caudatus (fig. 33, 21,) is | 
like appendage to the lobus he ‘Tt 
tremely diversified in form, bei om 
well developed and a distinct lobe; at 
times a mere vestige recognisible only t 
eye of the experienced anatomist. 1 
it is a slight ridge, merging into the sur 
the liver on either side, and at other t 
marked by a fissure on one side or @ 
both. Ordinarily it is an angular pro 
two or three inches in length; comm 
by a narrow isthmus from the lobus 
passing obliquely outwards and 
the side of the gall-bladder, and subsic 
its extremity into the surface of the right 
The depression on the under surface ¢ 
right lobe, in front of this process, is for 
ception of the curve of the ascending 
and the posterior depressions for the 
renal capsule and right kidney. 
The coverings of the liver are twofold, a: 
investment, which is obtained from the 
neum, and a proper fibrous capsule 
from the capsule of Glisson. The per 
encloses the whole of the liver with the’ 
tion of that part of the rior borde 
constitutes the oval space (fig. 32, 1 
33, 15,) and is surrounded by the ec 
ligament, of the fossa for the gall-blade 
fissure for the vena cava, and the tr 
fissure. The proper capsule is most 
upon those parts of the organ which : 
uncovered by the peritoneum, particu 
the oval space upon its posterior border. 
The alse of the liver varies consid 
both with the period of life and ¥ 
greater or smaller proportion of bloo 
contained within its vessels. Thus in 
it presents a light red colour, which ¢ 
into a reddish brown in the adult, and in 
in depth of shade with the age of the § 
If the individual have died from hemor 
the liver appears bleached and presents 
lowish grey tint; if from general conge 
