THE ABDOMEN, INTERIOR. 501 



one-half inches. As it is at this point that the pain is 

 usually greatest in appendicitis, it is a good point to keep 

 in mind. As it was first mentioned by McBurney it takes 

 the name of that surgeon and is called McBurney's point. 



From the caecum to the liver the large intestine is called 

 the ascending- colon. Here taking a sudden bend to the 

 left the bowel becomes the transverse colon, and the bend 

 is the hepatic flexure. 



On the left side of the body, under the spleen, the gut 

 turns downward to form the descending- colon while the 

 bend is called the splenic flexure. The continuation of 

 the large intestine is the omega loop and rectum. 



The ascending colon (Figs. 96, 97, 98, 101, 102) is 

 usually only enveloped by peritoneum in front and at the 

 sides, the posterior part of the bowel resting against the 

 back of the abdomen. It may, however, be completely 

 covered by peritoneum, in which case it is provided with a 

 distinct mesentery. 



Relations. In front and at the right is the abdominal wall, 

 at the left the coils of small intestine, below the caecum, and 

 behind the quadratus lumborum, and lower portion of the 

 right kidney. 



The hepatic flexure lies up under the overhanging edge 

 of the liver, in close contact with the gall bladder. From its 

 outer border, there is often a continuation of the transverse 

 mesocolon to the side of the abdomen ; upon this little shelf 

 the right extremity of the liver rests (sustentaculum hepatis). 



The transverse cplon (Figs. 96, 97, 98, 101) crosses the 

 abdomen from right to left, and from the hepatic to the 

 splenic flexure. It rises higher at its two extremities than 

 in the middle, where it crosses the middle line just above 

 the umbilicus. 



Relations. Above, gall bladder, liver, stomach. Behind, 



