THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM 



transverse sections through the abdomen. In Fig. 90 a 

 transverse section has been made so as to pass through the 

 epiploic foramen, and the level of this section is represented on 

 the surface of the stomach in Fig. 89. The great sac becomes 

 continuous with the ome.ital bursa behind the right free border 

 of the lesser omentum, which therefore constitutes the anterior 

 boundary of the epiploic foramen, and it may be observed 

 that the bile duct^ the hepatic artery and portal vein are placed 



FIG. 90. Transverse Section through the Abdomen at the level of 

 the epiploic foramen (of Winslow), to sho\v the disposition of 

 the peritoneum. 



In this section the stomach is cut along the line A (Fig. 8;). 



I. Stomach. 

 II. Epiploic foramen. 

 IV. Right kidney. 



V. Left kidney. 

 VI. Spleen. 



VII. Omental bursa (lesser 

 sac). 



2. Lieno-renal ligament. 



3. Gastro - splenic liga- 



ment. 



4. Aorta. 



5. Hepatic artery. 



6. Portal vein. 



7. Inferior vena cava. 



8. Bile duct. 



between the two layers of the lesser omentum at its right 

 border. The inferior vena cava, as it ascends through the 

 abdomen, lies behind the peritoneum on the posterior wall of 

 the epiploic foramen, which separates it from the portal vein 

 at this level (Fig. 90). 



When the two layers of peritoneum which enclose the 

 stomach are traced to the left, they pass from the fundus to 

 the spleen, forming the gastro-splenic ligament (Fig. 90), and 

 the left layer of this fold is continued over the gastric, dia- 



