ABDOMINAL CAVITY 471 



part of the gullet is very short, probably never more than one 

 inch in length. It lies in the upper and posterior part of the 

 epigastric region behind a groove in the posterior aspect of 

 the left lobe of the liver and in front of the left crus of the 

 diaphragm. Its right border passes uniformly and gradually 

 into the lesser curvature of the stomach without the formation 

 of an angle, but a very definite angle is formed between 

 the left border and the fundus. 



Relations between Thoracic and Abdominal Organs. At 

 this stage it is useful to consider the relations which exist 

 between the abdominal and thoracic organs which lie upon 

 the different aspects of the diaphragm. It has been noted 

 that the right lobe of the liver occupies the right vault of the 

 diaphragm, whilst the left lobe of the liver, the fundus of the 

 stomach, and the spleen occupy the left vault. The base of 

 the right lung is in relation to the right lobe of the liver. 

 The pericardium, in by far the greater part of its extent, lies 

 above the left lobe of the liver, which therefore intervenes 

 between it and the stomach only a limited portion of the 

 apex of the heart extends over the region of the stomach. 

 The base of the left lung lies over the left lobe of the liver, 

 the fundus of the stomach, and the spleen. 



Intestinum Tenue (Small Intestine). The small intestine 

 is that part of the alimentary canal which succeeds the stomach. 

 It begins in the epigastric region at the pylorus, and ends in 

 the lower part of the right iliac region by joining the great 

 intestine. Its average length is somewhere about twenty- 

 three feet, and as it is traced towards its termination it will be 

 seen to diminish slightly in calibre. It is divided into three 

 portions, viz. : 



1. The duodenum. 



2. The jejunum. 



3. The ileum. 



The duodenum is the name which is given to the first 

 part of the small intestine. It is about ten inches long, and 

 extends from the pylorus to the left side of the body of the 

 second lumbar vertebra. As it lies deeply in the greater part 

 of its extent, and as further dissection is necessary to display 

 its relations, it would not be advantageous to consider it at 

 present. 



The jejunum and ileum constitute the coils of the small 

 intestine, and are more or less completely covered by the 



