ABDOMINAL CAVITY 513 



the fundus of the stomach. Within its area and about an 

 inch or so in front of the margo intermedius is situated a 

 longitudinal slit, frequently broken up into two or more 

 pieces, the hilus lienis. This gives passage to the vessels 

 and nerves which enter and leave the organ. Behind the 

 hilus and immediately in front of the intermediate angle 

 there is a pancreatic depression of variable extent and depth 

 into which the tail of the pancreas is received. 



Thefaaes renalis is concave, and varies somewhat in its 

 extent. It is applied to the anterior surface of the upper 

 part of the kidney close to its lateral border. 



The peritoneal relations of the spleen are such that the renal surface 

 cannot be studied unless the posterior border of the organ is pulled 

 forwards, and the fingers are passed behind it. 



The colic surface is smaller than the other two visceral 

 areas. It is triangular in form, and looks downwards and 

 medially. It is in contact with the left colic flexure and 

 the phrenico-colic ligament. 



Of the several borders which separate the different surfaces 

 of the spleen from each other, the anterior, the inferior, 

 and the posterior are the most prominent and conspicuous. 

 The anterior border is notched or crenated, and intervenes 

 between the diaphragmatic surface and the gastric surface. 

 The inferior border separates the diaphragmatic surface from 

 the colic surface ; whilst the posterior border intervenes 

 between the renal and diaphragmatic surfaces. The other 

 margins which separate the visceral areas from each other 

 radiate out from the intermediate angle, and have been 

 already noticed. 



A characteristic feature of the typically formed spleen is 

 the great prominence of the anterior angle. It forms the 

 most anteriorly placed part of the spleen. 



The form of the spleen varies very greatly with the varying degrees of 

 distension of the hollow viscera which are related to its visceral aspect. 

 There is good reason to believe that the tetrahedral form which is described 

 above is associated with an empty or slightly distended stomach and a 

 well-distended intestine. When, however, the stomach is distended and 

 the intestine more or less empty, the basal surface partially or even entirely 

 disappears, and then the spleen assumes a form similar to that of the 

 segment of an orange (Shepherd). 



Structure of the Spleen. As the spleen will be required when the 

 relations of the left kidney are studied, the dissector should obtain a 

 sheep's spleen for the purpose of studying the structure of the organ. He 

 will find that it is enveloped by two coats (i) serous ; (2) fibrq-elastic. 



VOL. I 33 



