OMENTUM. 237 



very delicate, with a reticulated aspect, in part due to streaks 

 of fat that the latter name is applied to. In the annexed 

 Fig. 94, two distinct folds are seen. The lesser, a, or gastro- 

 hepatic omentum attaching the stomach to the liver, and the 

 larger, b, c, or gastro-colic omentum, divided into the part 

 attaching the stomach to the spleen or gastro- splenic omen- 

 tum; b, and the part proceeding from the stomach to the 

 colon; c, or gastro-colic omentum. The large and small 

 omentum form with the stomach, duodenum, liver, and colon, 

 a pouch or omental sac, which can only be penetrated close 

 to the liver behind the small intestine, where there is an 

 aperture called the foramen of Winslow. 



The omentum, forming a sac into which the contents of 

 the stomach drop when the latter organ is ruptured, has 

 been rather strangely believed to be destined to retain the 

 food, and prevent its entering the general peritoneal cavity 

 in cases of ruptured stomach. This is evidently absurd, and 

 Professor Dick has suggested, with more show of reason, 

 that the abundant omentum of our domestic quadrupeds is 

 " entirely for the purpose of facilitating the motion of the 

 digestive organs, and that the difference which is found in 

 regard to its size is owing to the peculiarities of the digestive 

 apparatus in the different species of animals, where such 

 variety of it is found." It no doubt extends the serous sur- 

 face, and increases the amount of secretion. 



To the practical man a knowledge of the disposition of the 

 omentum, the construction of the omental sac, and the posi- 

 tion of the foramen of Winslow, are of importance in connec- 

 tion with the history of hernise, &c., which are observed in 

 the domestic animals. 



