5o6 ABDOMEN 



lobe of the liver. The left branch runs to the left along the 

 porta, crosses the fossa for the umbilical vein, and enters 

 the left lobe of the liver. As it crosses the umbilical fossa 

 it is joined, anteriorly, by the ligamentum teres and some 

 small para-umbilical veins, and posteriorly by the ligamentum 

 venosum. In addition to its two main tributaries, the 

 superior mesenteric and the splenic veins, the vena portse 

 receives the coronary vein of the stomach and the right 

 gastric vein. Occasionally the inferior mesenteric vein joins 

 its commencement instead of opening into the splenic vein. 

 The cystic vein, as already stated, opens into its right branch. 

 The small para-umbilical veins, which join the left branch, run 

 along the ligamentum teres of the liver, and communicate, 

 at the umbilicus, with the superficial veins of the abdominal 

 wall. 



Vena Lienalis (Splenic Vein). The splenic vein com- 

 mences by the union of a number of tributaries which issue 

 from the hilus on the gastric surface of the spleen. It runs 

 backwards through the lieno-renal ligament, and then passes 

 to the right to its union with the superior mesenteric vein 

 between the neck and head of the pancreas. As it runs 

 from left to right it lies behind the upper part of the posterior 

 surface of the pancreas and in front of the left kidney, the 

 left suprarenal gland, and the abdominal aorta, crossing the 

 latter between the origins of its cceliac and the superior 

 mesenteric branches. It conveys blood not only from the 

 spleen, but also from the stomach and the pancreas. The 

 blood from the stomach is conveyed to it by the left gastro- 

 epiploic and the short gastric veins which join its commenc- 

 ing tributaries, and as it passes along the pancreas it receives 

 tributaries from that gland. 



Dissection. Cut through the oesophagus immediately below the 

 diaphragm ; detach the stomach from the diaphragm by severing the 

 gastro-phrenic ligament, and from the spleen by cutting through the 

 remains of the lieno-gastric ligament and dividing the short gastric arteries 

 and the left gastro-epiploic artery. Remove the separated portion of the 

 stomach and examine its structure. 



Coats of the Stomach. The coats of the stomach are 

 five in number, viz. : 



1. Peritoneal, or serous. 



2. Subserous. 



3. Muscular. 



4. Submucous. 



5. Mucous. 



