212 SPECIAL ANATOMY. 



441. c. The large intestine, intestinum crassum s. amplum, 



extends from the Valvula Bauhini as far as the Jlnus, surround- 

 ing the small intestine almost like a ring, since it ascends from the 

 inferior part of reg. iliaca dextra into the r. hypochondria ca dextra 

 as high as the liver, passes from this point with a sudden turn 

 transversely across, below the stomach, to the left side as far as the 

 spleen, curves once more and descends vertically as far as the reg. 

 iliaca sinistra, whence it sinks down into the small pelvis forming 

 the sigmoid flexure, and terminates with the rectum. Its length 

 measures four to five feet, its width varies (see below). 

 Shape : tubular with irregular surfaces. 



Structure : 1. Mucous membrane, whiter, thicker, and coarser than that of 

 the small intestine, contains no villi, but, instead, irregularly arranged folds, 

 between which numerous mucous glands open (gl. Lieberkuhn.) ; no valvulte 

 conniventes, but, instead, crescenlic transverse and longitudinal folds. 



2. The muscular coat is stronger than in the small intestine. 



3. Serous coat (Peritonaurri) less complete than in the mesenteric intestine ; 

 the Colon transvers. alone has a complete mesentery. It forms in several 

 places, especially on the Colon, semi-circular, depending folds, beset with fat 

 (appendices adiposa s. epiploicce), which wind around and tie together the in- 

 testine. 



Function : For the formation, keeping, and expulsion of the faecal matter. 

 In the fcetus the large intestine is filled up with meconium. 



442. a. The Csecum, 



is the most superior portion of the large intestine, ending in a 

 cul-de-sac. It lies in the fossa iliaca dextra, covered on the an- 

 terior surface only by peritonseum, and therefore little moveable ; 

 (it nevertheless sometimes sinks down into the pelvis, and con- 

 tributes to form hernias;) generally in a vertical direction (that is, 

 in the same as Colon ascendens',) next to the stomach the thickest 

 part of the alimentary canal ; of an oblong, sacciform, and irregular 

 shape, provided below (behind and to the left) a few lines beneath 

 the valv. Bauhini and above its terminal cul-de-sac, with a pro- 

 cess, proc. s. appendix vermiformis (one to six lines long), about 

 as thick as a goose-quill, and terminated by a closed end, which is 

 attached by a triangular fold of peritonseum (mesenteriolum ap- 

 pendicis), and is frequently pushed between colon ascend, and 

 kidney. 



In front the cascum touches the abdominal parietes. (The small 

 intestine often passes between them.) 



Behind it rests upon M. iliacus intern., separated from it by 

 fasc. iliaco-lumbalis, and from this by loose uniting tissue. 



Internally the Csscitm receives the small intestine at an obtuse 

 angle above. 



