ABDOMINAL CAVITY 435 



the fundus it runs forwards and downwards with a marked 

 convexity to the left ; finally it runs to the right and slightly 

 backwards with a convexity downwards. The second portion 

 is frequently spoken of as the left lateral border and the last 

 portion as the lower border of the stomach ; the junction of 

 these two parts is commonly the lowest portion of the organ 

 and, when the body is recumbent, it lies on a level with the 

 tips of the tenth costal cartilages, but in the erect posture 

 and when the stomach is full it may descend to a much 

 lower point, even to the level of the umbilicus or still 

 lower. The dissector will find that the small curvature 

 is attached to the lower and posterior surfaces of the liver 

 by a fold of peritoneum which is called the lesser omentum. 

 The part of the great curvature immediately adjacent 

 to the oesophagus is attached to the diaphragm by a peri- 

 toneal fold, the gastro- phrenic ligament, the descending part 

 of the great curvature is attached to the spleen by the gastro- 

 lienal ligament (O.T. gastro-splenic omentum\ and the lower 

 part of the great curvature is connected with the transverse 

 colon by the gastro -colic ligament or greater omentum. The 

 first of these connections can be demonstrated by pulling the 

 stomach downwards, the second by pulling it to the right, 

 and the last by raising the great omentum which hangs down 

 from the lower border and turning it upwards over the 

 lower margin of the costal arch. The surfaces of the stomach 

 are an anterior or superior and a posterior or inferior. The 

 latter cannot be seen at the present stage of dissection, it 

 rests on the stomach bed. The anterior is directed upwards 

 and forwards, and the student should note that it is in 

 relation to the left and above with the diaphragm, below with 

 the anterior wall of the abdomen, in the region of the sub- 

 costal angle, and above and to the right with the lower 

 surface of the liver. After examining the stomach the 

 dissector should look for the spleen. 



Lien (The Spleen). The spleen cannot be seen, when the 

 abdominal organs are undisturbed, if it is of normal size and 

 is lying in its normal position, but it can easily be felt if the 

 hand is passed backwards round the left margin of the stomach 

 into the back part of the left hypochondriac region, and it can 

 be brought into view by pulling the stomach towards the right 

 side. When this has been done the spleen will be found to 

 be attached to the stomach by the gastro-lienal ligament 



