THE ABDOMEN, INTERIOR. 483 



the rectum and bladder (male) called the rectovesical. In 

 the female there are two fossae here, one between the 

 rectum and the uterus and vagina, the rectovaglnal or 

 the pouch of Douglas and a second one between the uterus 

 and the bladder, the uterovesical. 



The Intersigmoid Fossa. This is a small pouch may 

 be large enough to admit a ball having a radius of two 

 inches located in the middle of the base of the sigmoid 

 mesentery on its left surface. The opening of the fossa is 

 to the left and downward. 



Fossa Duodenojejunalis. This pouch will admit the 

 "first joint of the thumb." It is found at the left of the 

 vertical or last portion of the duodenum. The opening is 

 upward. Into these last two pouches a portion of the in- 

 testine might work its way, thus forming a retroperitoneal 

 hernia. 



DISSECTION. 



Incise the anterior layer of the gastrocolic omentum parallel with and just 

 below the greater curvature of the stomach. This will open into the cavity of 

 the great omentum. The hand introduced into this cavity will find the liver 

 above, the stomach in front, the pancreas and colon behind, and the finger can 

 be carried to the right behind the stomach to appear through the foramen of 

 Winslow behind the gastrohepatic omentum. The peritoneum lining the cavity 

 of the greater omentum then covers the posterior surface of the stomach and 

 first part of the duodenum, becomes blended with the anterior covering of the 

 stomach at its lower border as already stated, then loops downward to form the 

 inner layer of the greater omentum, and on the return becomes attached to the 

 upper (anterior) surface of the transverse colon, which it covers, then, passing 

 backward to the abdominal wall, forms the upper layer of the transverse meso- 

 colon. The base of the transverse mesocolon covers in the duodenum and 

 pancreas. From this point the peritoneum extends upward to the under sur- 

 face of the diaphragm, then on to the liver, forming the posterior layer of the 

 coronary and lateral ligaments of that organ, also of the gastrophrenic liga- 

 ment. From the posterior margin of the stomach the anterior and posterior 

 layers of peritoneum pass backward to enclose the spleen, gastrosplenic omen- 

 tum, then on to be attached to the posterior abdominal wall, forming the spleno- 

 phrenal ligament. 



