The Liver and Gall Bladder . 195 



the gastro-hepatic omentum. The deep lymphatics empty 

 into the hepatic glands as a rule, though a few go to the 

 receptaculum chyli, while those belonging to the gall blad- 

 der pass to the glands in the gastro-hepatic omentum. 



Relations of the liver. The superior surface 

 directed upwards, forwards and slightly to the right is 

 moulded beneath the diaphragm, and is behind the upper 

 portion of the abdominal wall. It is covered by periton- 

 eum and is attached to the above structures, i.e., to the 

 abdominal wall and diaphragm, by means of the suspen- 

 sory or falciform ligament. The posterior surface crosses 

 the posterior aspect of the abdomen in the neighborhood 

 of the tenth and eleventh vertebrae, the lobus Spigelii (a 

 portion of this surface) lying opposite these vertebrae 

 and in front of the crura of the diaphragm. The portion 

 of this surface formed by the left lobe is entirely sur- 

 rounded by peritoneum and is in contact by its inner end 

 with the oesophagus, while that part of the posterior sur- 

 face formed by the right lobe is thick, and, in addition to 

 the vena cava, which is imbedded in ,it, has the diaphragm 

 and the suprarenal capsule behind it. There is no peri- 

 toneum covering the posterior surface of this lobe, except- 

 ing at its right extremity, and the layers reflected from the 

 upper and lower borders to the diaphragm constitute the 

 coronary ligaments. The inferior surface is directed 

 downwards, backwards and to the left, and is in relation 

 with the colon, the duodenum and the right kidney, as well 

 as with the lesser curvature, the anterior surface l3f the 

 body and the pyloric end of the stomach. It is covered by 

 peritoneum, except at the transverse fissure and at the site 

 of the gall bladder. The slanting direction of this under 

 surface allows it to glide, freely, over the subjacent struc- 

 tures without tending to dislodge them from their respec- 

 tive positions. There are present slight depressions on 



