CHAPTER XXVII. 

 ABDOMINAL VESSELS AND REGIONS. 



VESSELS. REGIONS. 



Relations. Tumors of. 



Landmarks. 



Aneurism. 



Ligation. 



The Abdominal Aorta begins at the aortic opening 

 of the diaphragm, which is situated at the level of the lower 

 part of the twelfth dorsal vertebra. It passes downwards 

 and terminates about the middle of the fourth lumbar 

 vertebra, a little to the left of the median line, where it 

 divides into the two common iliacs. 



Relations. In front are the right lobe of 

 the liver, the lesser omentum and stomach, the 

 solar plexus, the termination of the oesophagus, the 

 splenic vein, the pancreas, left renal vein, transverse 

 part of the duodenum, aortic plexus and the median lum- 

 bar lymphatic glands. Behind, are the bodies of the lum- 

 bar vertebrae, left lumbar veins and the origin of the left 

 crus. On the right side, are the right crus, the splanch- 

 nic nerve, lobus Spigelii, receptaculum chyli, right semi- 

 lunar ganglion and vena cava. On the left, are the left 

 crus, left splanchnic and left semilunar ganglion. The 

 branches of the aorta are; visceral for the supply of the 

 different abdominal organs, and parietal for the walls of 

 the abdomen. Between the smaller branches of these 

 two divisions of the abdominal blood supply there is more 

 or less anastomosis. The aorta gradually diminishes in 

 size from above downwards, on account of the area and 

 number of the branches given off from it in its course. 



