974 



THE ORGANS OF DIGESTION 



piece of the sacrum. The siirmoiJ meso-eolon measures from one and a (juarter to 

 three and a half inelies in wicUh — i e., from the parietes to the bowel. 



When a descending meso-eolon exists it joins tliat of the loop, and the line of 

 attachment is then, as a rule, directed obliiiuely across the psoas and the lower end 

 of the kidney, Avhile beyond the pelvic brim the attachment is as above described. 



There is often no meso-eolon over the psoas, the gut being adherent to that 

 muscle. 



Fig. 577.— View of the Deeper Abdominal Viscera. (Rlidinger.) 



Superior vena cava 



THORACIC DUCT 



Inferior vena cava 



ASCENDING COLON 



Aorta 



LEFT BRONCHUS 



KIDNEY 

 DUODENUM 

 DESCENDING COLON 



SIGMOID FLEXURE 



In ponnection with the sigmoid meso-eolon is often found a fossa or pouch of 

 peritoneum, known as the intersigmoid fossa. The pouch is formed by the layers 

 of the meso-eolon, and is produced by the sigmoid artery. It is generally found 

 over the bifurcation of the iliac vessels. The pouch is funnel-shaped, and the 

 opening looks downwards and to the left. The fossa varies in depth from one to 

 one and a half inches, and is the seat of the sigmoid hernia. 



The rectum. — The rectum has been described as divided into three jxirtions. 

 Such division is (juitc arbitrary, and is inconvenient. What is usually described 

 as the first portion has, in the account just given, been included with the sigmoid 

 tiexure. 



