486 A MANUAL OF ANATOMY. 



The dissector is expected to first read the descriptions 

 and then to expose the organs according to the plan as 

 given later, identifying as he goes the main points regarding 

 each organ. 



Too much stress cannot be given to the study of the 

 intimate and projected surface relations of the various 

 organs of the abdominal cavity. Every year sees surgeons 

 successfully invading new fields, hitherto forbidden ground ; 

 in the last few years no part of surgery has yielded more 

 brilliant results than in the domain of the abdomen. 



The student is urged to do more than to casually identify 

 the main abdominal relations ; he is to study for himself the 

 position of each and every organ without reference to what 

 may be written about it. Read what has been said, then 

 study and think for himself. He will find there are many 

 surprises in store for him if he studies in this way. 



The Liver. Figs. 96, 97, 104, 105, 108, 109. 



Position and Size. The liver occupies the dome-shaped 

 space under the diaphragm on the right side, reaching 

 across the middle line a distance of two and one-half inches. 

 It is the largest gland in the body, weighing about three 

 and one-half pounds. It measures twelve inches from side 

 to side, six and one-half from before backward, and three and 

 one-half vertically in its thickest part (in the right lobe). 



The Ligaments. The liver is held in position by five 

 ligaments, all, except the round, derived from the periton- 

 eum which encloses almost the entire gland, and all (with 

 the same exception) attached to the diaphragm. 



( i ) The suspensory, falciform, or broad ligament is the 

 first one seen on opening the abdomen. It is attached to 

 the right of the middle line from the umbilicus backward to 

 the posterior part of the diaphragm, and below to the liver, 



