ANATOMY OP THE FCETUS. 257 



converted into a fibrous cord (p. 208) ; an inch or so of its 

 commencement always remains pervious, and gives origin 

 to the superior vesical artery. 



The UMBILICAL VEIN runs from the umbilicus along the 

 free margin of the suspensory ligament of the liver to the 

 transverse fissure of that organ ; it there divides into three 

 branches, one of which is distributed to the left lobe, one 

 to the right lobe, larger than the preceding, and which is 

 joined by the vena portae, and a third branch, smaller than 

 either of the others, the ductus venosus, which terminates 

 in the left hepatic vein. After the cessation of the placental 

 circulation, the umbilical vein and ductus venosus become 

 converted into a fibrous cord, the former becoming the 

 round ligament of the liver. 



The LIVER occupies the whole upper part of the abdo- 

 men ; it is of a dark, mahogany color, and its lobes are 

 nearly equal in size. After birth, it rapidly diminishes in 

 bulk ; and, at the age of five or six years, attains the pro- 

 portions maintained during the rest of life. 



The KIDNEYS present a. tabulated appearance, and are 

 relatively larger than in the adult. The supra-renal cap- 

 sules are also of large size. 



The BLADDER is long and conical, and is connected supe- 

 riorly with the umbilicus by a fibrous cord called the 

 urachus. This is an obliterated tube which during the 

 early part of intra-uterine life connected the bladder with 

 one of the foetal membranes called the allantois. 



The INTESTINES are small in calibre, and contain a dark 

 green substance called meconium. The small intestines 

 are devoid of valvulae conniventes, or these are but imper- 

 fectly developed. The appendix of the caecum is long and 

 of large size, and seems like a tapering continuation of the 

 caecum itself. 



The TESTES, in the early part of foetal life, are situated 

 in the lumbar region, behind the peritoneum. About the 

 fifth month they begin to descend to the scrotum, but not 

 unfrequently they may be found delayed in some part of 

 their course at the time of birth. Connected with the lower 

 end of the testicle and epididymis is a band composed of 

 areolar and muscular tissue, called the gubernaculum teslis, 

 which guides and assists their gradual descent; it extends 

 through the ing' nal canal, and is attached to the front 

 of the pubes and the bottom of the scrotum. When the 

 testicle is about to enter the internal abdominal ring, a 



22* 



