1074 DISSECTION OF THE ABDOMEN AND PELVIS. 



into the right gastro-epiploic which anastomoses with the left gastt o-epiploic, 

 and the superior pancreatico-duodenal which anastomoses with the inferior 

 pancreatico-duodenal branch of the superior mesenteric artery. 



The inferior mesenteric vein will be traced upwards behind the pancreas 

 to join the splenic vein, which, passing transversely onwards to meet the 

 superior mesenteric vein, will be seen to form with it the trunk of the vena 

 portse (p. 479). The position of the common bile-duct with reference to 

 the hepatic artery and portal vein is to be observed, and the duct is to be 

 traced up into the hepatic and cystic ducts and downwards to the duodenum 

 (p. 867). The relations and structure of the pancreas are then to be 

 examined, and the pancreatic duct is to be traced along its posterior aspect 

 to its termination in the duodenum along with the common bile-duct 

 (p. 881). The spleen may now be removed, its blood-vessels dissected, a 

 section made of it, and some of the pulp may be washed away to show the 

 trabecular structure in the interior of the organ (p. 883). The stomach 

 may now be removed along with the duodenum, and a careful examination 

 made of the structure of these organs ; the shape of the stomach, its three 

 layers of muscular fibres, and the construction of the pyloric valve being 

 specially noted (p. 830). 



The liver is next to be studied. Its ligaments, viz., the falciform liga- 

 ment, the round ligament or obliterated umbilical vein, the coronary, and 

 the two lateral or triangular ligaments are first to be examined ; after 

 which the organ may be removed from the body (p. 8G5). In doing this, 

 the inferior vena cava must be divided both above and below the liver. 

 The dissectors may now observe the division of the liver into a right aud 

 left lobe, as also the quadrate, Spigelian, and caudate lobes : they will like- 

 wise note the various fissures, viz., the transverse or portal ; the longitudinal 

 or antero-posterior, divided into an anterior part containing the remains of 

 the umbilical vein, and a posterior part in which the remains of the ductua 

 venosus are situated ; the fissure or fossa of the gall-bladder, and the fissure 

 or fossa of the vena cava (p. 862). They will observe the openings of the 

 hepatic veins into the part of the vena cava imbedded in the posterior 

 border of the liver, and follow the divisions of the hepatic arteries, portal 

 vein and hepatic ducts, as far as possible into the substance of the liver. 

 In doing this the capsule of Glisson sheathing these parts is to be observed : 

 the appearance of the substance of the liver may then be exhibited by 

 minuter dissection ; and the gall-bladder having been opened and washed, 

 the structure of its coats and the peculiar reticulated arrangement of its 

 mucous membrane may be examined. 



6. Deep Posterior part of the Abdominal Cavity. On returning to the 

 examination of the parts remaining in the abdomen, the dissectors will 

 begin by tracing out the plexuses of the sympathetic nerves. The superior 

 and inferior mesenteric plexuses, in connection with the aortic plexus, are 

 to be traced upwards into the solar plexus, and the nerves proceeding from 

 the aortic plexus downwards into the hypogastric plexus. The solar plexus 

 will be found surrounding the aorta at the root of the coeliac axis ; also, its 

 semilunar ganglia, one on each side, and the splanchnic nerves passing 

 through the crura of the diaphragm to terminate in it (p. 699). The 

 dissectors will now follow the plexiform nerves which emanate from the 

 solar plexus and surround the arteries in the neighbourhood ; namely, the 

 coeliac plexus subdividing into hepatic, splenic and coronary ; also, the 

 suprarenal and renal, and the spermatic plexuses. In doing this the supra- 

 renal capsules will fall under observation, and care is to be taken in the 



