208 SPECIAL ANATOMY. 



2. The middle, strongest layer, consists of circular fibres, which pass from 

 the oesophagus to the valvula pylori, and terminate in the last with a thick ring, 

 as m. sphincter pylori. 



3. The internal layer consists of oblique fibres (continuations of the circular 

 fibres of the oesophagus), which pass with a parabolic curve from the cardia, 

 and surround, especially, the fundus. 



c. Serosa, the most external coat, is firmly attached, at some 

 distance from the curvatures, to the muscular coat ; it consists of 

 two layers of peritoneum, which pass from the liver to the sto- 

 mach at the curvatur. minor, cover its anterior and posterior 

 surfaces, unite again at the curvatur. major, and form at this 

 point the great omentum (see Peritoneum). Ligaments: omen- 

 turn minus (gastro-hepatic.), lig. phrenico-gastricum, splenico- 

 gastricum. 



Vessels. 1. Art. at the small curvature: coronaria ventric. sinistra (from 

 A. cceliaca) coron. ventr. dextra (from hepatica) 5 on the great curvature : gastro- 

 epiploicce (from hepatica and lienalis) ; at the fundus ; JLrtr. breves (from A, 

 lienalis); at the pyloric end: gastro-duodenalis. 2. Veins, the same names 

 taking a like course, collect in V, lienalis and coronar. ventr. dextra and open 

 into the V. portte. Lymphatics : pass into the glands along both curvatures. 



Nerves. 1. N. vagus sinister, forms a plexus gastricus on the ant. surface 

 nerv. vagus dexter, a similar on the posterior surface of the stomach ; shortly 

 (both) around the Cardia, and they are lost in the muscular coat. 2. Plexus 

 ceeliac, formed by Nerv. sympathicus. 



Development. In the foetus the fundus is small, the whole stomach directed 

 vertically; in old age the pyloric portion, and especially m. pylori, is greatly 

 developed. 



Function. Chymification, that is, the metamorphosis of the food into Chyme, 

 by means of the acid of the gastric juice (see Pepsin). 



437. 2. Intestinal canal, canalis s. ductus intestinalis, 



a tubular, membranous, greatly convoluted conduit, reaching from 

 the Pylorus to the Anus, and filling up the largest portion of the 

 lower belly. It is divided into a superior, longer, and at the same 

 time narrow portion (small intestines), and an inferior and also 

 wider (large intestines). Their coats are, from within outwards. 

 1. Mucous membrane. 2. Tunica propria s. nervea, a thin, 

 brilliant, white uniting tissue, firmly connected to the mucous 

 membrane and the interposed uniting tissue of the muscles, and 

 on this account is not generally expressly mentioned. 3. The 

 muscular coat, consisting of an internal layer of delicate circular, 

 and an external of longitudinal fibres (according to Mussy four 

 layers). 4. The serous coat or peritoneal investment. 



438. a. The small intestine, intestinum tenue s. angustum, 



extends from the regio umbilicalis and hypogastrica, through the 

 reg. lumbalis as far as reg. iliaca dextra, where it enters the 



