i\> i\\/:\/.7< m Tin: .\nintMi\.\i. 1 1 n ; i-:srt\- 1-: r.i.v.i/, !-.. 



rea the insertion of the great mesentery, by which it is held to the 

 greater curvature of the stomach. The //.-<. or x// j( . . . m-V//, is thick 



ami wide, and responds to the left kidney and the corresponding extremity 

 of the pancreas ; it shows the insertion of tho suspensory ligament. The 

 )nn'iit. or infi-i-ior '.'//' mitij, is smooth and thin. 



Weight. Tho average weight is 32 ounces ; but it is sometimes of 

 enormous dimensions as much as three or four times its normal volume. 



.!/.</< </' atfnrJtnient. The spleen is a floating organ, whose displacements 

 are limit; -d by a suspensory ligament, and tho great (or gastro-*]>/- 

 oiiH'iitiiin. The first is a peritoneal fold which proceeds from the anterior 

 border of the left kidney and the sublumhar wall, and is strengthened by 

 the elastic fibrous tissue comprised he-twin -n its t\vo layers. It is fixed to 

 the Irise of the spleen, and is confounded, inwardly, with the great omentum. 

 The latter is already known as proceeding to the colon, and in its passage 

 :iing attached to the splenic fissure, whence it extends over the sur- 

 face of the organ to form its serous covering. 



STRUCTURE. The tissue of the spleen has a violet-blue colour, sometimes 



approaching to a red hue ; it is clastic, tenacious, and soft, yields to the 



ire of the finger, and retains the imprint. Enveloped externally by the 



,i, its substance includes a fibrous framework, splenic pulp, Mal- 



jiit/hiiiit <-i)/-y<//.NV/rx. vessels, and nerves. 



M.S iiii'inlii-iiiK'. This is developed over the whole surface of the organ, 

 t in the fissure of tho anterior border. Its internal face adheres most 

 intimately to the proper tunic of the spleen. It is only an expansion of the 

 .is bands which limit the movements of the viscus. 



FOtrou* framework. Under the peritoneal membrane is a thick, resisting, 

 fibrous tunic, roughened and granular on its exterior, and sending from its 

 d'-ep face into the interior of the mass a multitude of prolongations called 

 /,-<;/,-, -ill, i', which cross in all directions, forming a cellular network whose 

 numerous narrow meshes contain tho other elements of the organ. In 

 washing a morsel of spleen in a jet of water, the latter are removed, and the 

 outlines of this fibrous structure are fully exposed. If a stream of water is 

 1 through tho splenic artery, the same result will bo arrived at. 

 Ki'lliki r has found in the proper tunic of the spleen, and in its trabeculaa, 

 a particular contractile tissue, the iinisrnlur cell-fibres, mixed with fasciculi 

 of elastic or inelastic fibrous tissue. (The proper coat, the sheaths of the 

 vessels, and the trabeculte consist of a dense mesh of white and yellow 

 elastic fibrous tissues, tho latter considerably predominating. It is owing to 

 the pn sencr of tins ti^-ue that the spleen possesses a considerable amount of 

 elasticity, admirably adapted for the very great variations in size that it 

 nts under certain circumstances. In some of the mammalia, in 

 addition to the usual constituents of this tunic, are found numerous pale, 

 flattened, spindle-shaped nucleated fibres, like unstripcd muscular fibre. 

 It i- probably owing to this structure, that the spleen possesses, when act.-d 

 upon by the galvanic current, faint traces of contractility.) 



Sflriii,- fiiilp. This name is given to a reddish pultaceons material. 



which partly occupies tho aveolar framework formed by the intersections 



of the trabccula). It is sustained by a very delicate reticulum of connective 



.and is composed of numerous elements, such as pigment granules, 



nuclei, large cells with several nuclei, lymphoid elements, and blood- 



u'lobules in a stuto of decomposition or transformation. These glohuh s 



T envt loped iii an albuminoid membrane. ( The proper substance 



of the sple-n consists of eolound and colourless elements. The 



