824 



THE ABDOMEN. 



into three parts by means of two perpendicular lines, drawn from the carti- 

 lage of the eighth rib, on each side, down to the centre of Poupart's liga- 

 ment. 



The upper zone is thus marked off into the right and left hypochondriac 

 regions and the epigastric region, the depression in the upper part of which 

 is called scrobiculus cordis, or pit of the stomach. The middle zone is 

 divided into the umbilical region in the centre, and the right and left 

 lumbar regions ; and the inferior zone into the hypogastric region in the 

 centre, and the iliac region at each side. 



On opening the abdominal cavity from the front, the viscera are seen to 

 lie in an upper and a lower group, separated by the great omentum, which 

 overhangs those in the lower part. The surfaces, which are in contact one 

 with another, and with the wall of the cavity, are rendered glistening by 

 reflections over them of the lining membrane of the cavity, the peritoneum ; 

 and the various organs are found to be attached by means of folds or dupli- 

 catures of that membrane, termed mesenteries and omeuta, which include the 

 blood-vessels, nerves, and lymphatics belonging to each organ. In the 

 upper group, as seen from before, are comprised the liver, stomach, and 

 a small part of the intestine ; in the lower group, more or less hidden by 



Fig, 577. Fig. 577. OUTLINE OP THE ANTERIOR 



SURFACE OP THE ABDOMEN, SHOWING 

 THE DIVISION INTO REGIONS. 



], epigastric region ; 2, umbilical; 3, 

 hypogastric ; 4, 4, right and left hypo- 

 chondriac ; 5, 5, right and left lumbar ; 

 6, 6, right and left iliac. 



the great omentum, are the re- 

 maining parts of the alimentary 

 canal. The spleen, pancreas, and 

 kidneys constitute a deeper group. 

 On the right side, projecting 

 downwards from beneath the dia- 

 phragm, is the liver with its ex- 

 cretory apparatus, which occupies 

 the right hypochondrium and part 

 of the epigastrium aud extends a 

 short way into the left hypochon- 

 drium ; to the left, and partly 

 beneath the liver, is the stomach, 

 which lies in the epigastric and left 



hypochondriac regions ; and closely applied to the left or cardiac end of the 

 stomach is the spleen. 



The stomach is seen to be connected at its right extremity, named the 

 pylorus, with the small intestine. The first part of the small intestine, 

 named duodenum, forms a deep curve projecting towards the right side, 

 resting on the posterior wall of the abdominal cavity and right kidney, and 

 terminating at the left of the middle line, where it emerges from behind the 

 root of the mesentery, and passes into the second part of the intestine, named 

 jejunum. The hollow of the curve of the duodenum is occupied by the large 

 right extremity or head of the pancreas. The remainder of the small in- 

 testine, comprising the jejunum in its upper two-fifths, and the ileum in the 



