238 HUMAN ANATOMY. 



The body is in relation in front with the stomach and trans- 

 verse mesocolon; behind it rests upon the first lumbar vertebra, 

 having interposed the crura of the diaphragm, vena cava, left 

 renal vein, aorta, superior mesenteric artery and vein, the in- 

 ferior mesenteric vein, and commencement of portal vein. 



The splenic artery and vein are lodged in a groove on its 

 upper border. 



The pancreatic duct, or canal of Wirsung, runs throughout 

 the substance of the organ, to emerge at the head, and open into 

 the duodenum by an orifice in common with the ductus com- 

 munis choledochus. The lesser pancreas, when it exists, empties 

 by the ductus pancreaticus minor. 



The structure resembles that of the salivary glands, but is 

 softer and looser. 



Arteries are from the splenic and pancreatico-duodenal 

 branches of the hepatic and superior mesenteric. 



The veins join the splenic or superior mesenteric. 



The nerves are from splenic plexus of the sympathetic. 



The lymphatics empty into the lumbar glands. 



THE LIVER. 



The liver is the largest gland in the body, measuring in 

 its transverse diameter from ten to twelve inches, and its antero- 

 posterior six to seven, and its thickest part about three inches, 

 and weighing about from three to four pounds. It occupies 

 the upper part of the abdominal cavity, and the right hypo- 

 chondriac, epigastric, and a portion of the left hypochondriac 

 regions. Its upper surface is convex and rests against the dia- 

 phragm and a small portion of the abdominal parietes in front. 

 Its lower surface is in contact with the duodenum and stomach, 

 the right kidney and suprarenal capsules, and the hepatic flexure 

 of the colon. It is divided by the longitudinal fissure into the 

 right and left lobes. The liver has five fissures, five lobes, five 

 ligaments, five sets of vessels, and is inclosed in a fibrous coat, 

 continuous at the transverse fissure with the capsule of Glisson. 

 It is also invested by the peritoneum, except at the attachment 

 of the coronary ligament. 



Structure. The liver is made up of lobules, which are 

 small, granular bodies about one-fifteenth of an inch in diameter, 

 held together by delicate connective tissue and the branches of 

 the five sets of vessels (to be described) and nerves, the whole 

 being inclosed in a serous and fibrous coat. 



Each lobule is made up of a mass of polyhedral, nucleated 

 cells, inclosed in a capillary plexus derived from the hepatiq 



