940 
navel and falciform ligament of the liver. 
From the last-named position we have before 
reached the anterior and posterior surfaces of 
the lesser omentum, the former by tracing the 
free surface over the left lobe, and the latter by 
tracing it over the right lobe, of the liver. 
From the sides of the falciform hepatic liga- 
ment, proceeding in each lateral direction, in 
a horizontal sectional line taken at the level of 
the foramen of Winslow, to the left we find 
the free peritoneal surface continuing, uninter- 
rupted by any folds, to the external surface of 
the gastro-splenic omentum in the left hypo- 
Diagram representing a transverse section of the human 
subject at the level of the first lumbar vertebra, i. e. 
through the foramen of Winslow. ¥ 
a, the st h, its descending portion; b, the 
spleen ; c, the gall-duct and hepatic vessels ; d, the 
round ligament of the liver; e, the lesser omentum ; 
Jf, the gastro-splenic omentum; g, the falciform 
ligament of the liver; h, the vena cava; i, the 
aorta ; k, k, the kidneys. The thick line represents 
the peritoneum. The space between the hepatic 
duct and vessels, c, and the vena cava, h, is the 
foramen of Winslow. 
Fig. 490. 
Diagram representing a transverse section of a Lizard, 
pies ig the st 3 spleen, lesser omentum, gastro- 
splenic omentum, and falciform hepatic ligament, in 
their mesial or typical position. 
a, the stomach; 5, the spleen; c, the gall-duct 
and hepatic vessels; d, the round ligament of the 
liver; e, the lesser omentum ; f, the gastro-splenic 
omentum; g, the falciform ligament of the liver ; 
h, the aorta, &c. The thick line represents the 
peritoneum. There is here no foramen of Winslow. 
It will be seen by comparing these diagrams, 
that much of what seems so intricate in the human 
peritoneum results from a lateral displacement of 
an extremely simple arrangement, a displacement 
which attains its maximum in man, and is due, 
partly to the lungs being confined to the thorax, and 
partly to the great lateral, and small antero-poste- 
rior, measurement of the human figure. 
PERITONEUM. 
chondriac region; to the right we find it conti- 
nuing uninterrupted through the foramen of 
Winslow, covering its posterior bo » to 
the internal surface of this same ic 
omentum: to witness its continuity, however, 
up to the latter point, it is of course necessary to 
cut through the lesser omentum—in the human 
subject, but not in those animals which have no 
foramen of Winslow. ( Figs. 489, 490.) 
We have now examined the continuity of 
the peritoneum in all the main directions, and 
the mode in which it is maintained over the 
principal viscera and along the connecting 
peer two free surfaces. There yet re- 
main for examination several folds. other 
remarkable arrangements of this membrane; 
the description of these is most conveniently 
deferred till we come to the consideration of 
our other propositions, when much that is at 
present wanting in order to render our proof of 
the continuity of the peritoneum throughout 
complete, will be supplied. 
The peritoneal cavity is one cavity, in the , 
same sense as the whole of the interiorof an 
hour-glass is one cavity; that is to say, it is 
two large cavities made one by being connected 
by an extremely narrow communicating neck. 
Supposing the whole of the peritoneal sae 
could be detached from the connections of its 
external surface and expanded, it would be a 
sac of exceedingly irregular figure, divided into 
two parts by an extremely narrow constriction. 
OMENTA, MESENTERIES, AND LIGAMENTS.— 
By these terms we understand the sheets with 
two free surfaces, formed by duplication of the 
ritoneum and adhesion of the surfaces there- 
y brought into apposition; to describe these 
is our second proposition, and to that we now 
ass. 
e A parieto-visceral sheet is usually called a 
mesentery or a ligament ; a sheet with two free 
surfaces passing from one viscus to another is 
called an omentum. 
The falciform ligament of the liver has — 
already been fully described. We agree with — 
Cruveilhier that its main use is to conduct the 
umbilical vein from the navel to the antero- 
posterior fissure of the liver. This, indeed, 
can hardly be called a use, especially in the 
adult; we would say rather that the existence 
of the falciform ligament necessarily results 
from the situation and course of the umbilical 
vein. It perhaps serves in some degree t 
retain the liver in situ, but it is not advanta- 
geously placed with regard to this office. 
The coronary ligament of the liver is t 
name given to those portions of the peritoneu 
which leap across, so to speak, from the un 
surface of the diaphragm to the upper an 
posterior aspect of the liver. The anterior ar 
posterior of these portions do not come il 
contact with one another in the middle, th 
liver being at that point in immediate conta 
with, and adherent to, the diaphragm; bu 
towards each side the two layers gradually 
approach each other, and at length come in 
contact and adhere, and are prolonged as fold: 
bearing another name. The coronary ligar 
fixes the liver to the diaphragm, or r 
