THE ALIMENTARY APPARATUS. 241 



2 and 3. The lateral ligaments, one on either side, are tri- 

 angular layers of peritoneum, attached to the lateral edges of the 

 liver toward its posterior margin. 



4. The coronary ligament is formed of two layers, con- 

 tinuous with the lateral ligament and with the longitudinal liga- 

 ment, connecting the posterior border of the liver to the dia- 

 phragm. 



5. The round ligament is a fibrous cord, the remains of the 

 obliterated umbilical vein and ductus venosus, extending from 

 the umbilicus to the longitudinal fissure, extending as far back 

 as the inferior vena cava. 



The five sets of vessels are the hepatic artery, portal vein, 

 hepatic veins, hepatic ducts, and lymphatics: 



The hepatic artery, the nutrient vessel of the liver, one of the 

 branches of the cceliac axis, enters the transverse fissure, and 

 after giving off branches to the capsule of Glisson, and to the 

 capsule, divides into interlobular branches, which form plexuses 

 around each lobule, and terminate in capillaries between the 

 cells, anastomosing with the capillaries of the portal vein. 



The portal vein enters at the transverse fissure, divides into 

 two branches, and finally terminates in the interlobular plexuses, 

 already described. These all unite into one vein intralcbular 

 vein traversing the centre of the lobule to join the sublobular 

 vein, the latter ending in the hepatic veins. These latter finally 

 terminate in the inferior vena* cava. 



The hepatic ducts originate between the hepatic cells as bile 

 capillaries, minute canals without walls, and form a plexus be- 

 tween the lobules. From these plexuses ducts converge and unite 

 to finally form the hepatic duct. 



The lymphatic vessels form two sets the superficial, those 

 upon the surface of the organ ; and deep, those accompanying the 

 branches of the hepatic arteries and portal vein. 



THE GALL-BLADDER is a conical membranous sac attached 

 to the under surface of the right lobe of the liver, and partly 

 covered by peritoneum. It measures about four inches by one, 

 and has a capacity of about nine drachms. It consists of a 

 fundus or rounded extremity, a body and neck, and has three 

 coats a fibrous, muscular, and mucous the latter lined with 

 columnar epithelium. 



The neck terminates in the cystic duct, the mucous mem- 

 brane of which is thrown into a series of folds, forming a 

 spiral valve. 



The dud us communis cholcdochus, or common biliary duct, 

 about three inches long and the diaincicr of a goose-quill, is 

 formed by the union of the hepatic, about two inches in length, 



