353 



SURGICAL APPLIED ANATOMY. [Chap. xvn. 



dorsal and first lumbar spines ; its inner end is distant 

 about an inch and a half from the median plane of the 

 body, and its oiiter end about reaches the mid-axillary 

 line" (Quain) (Figs. 31, 33, and 34). It possesses 



- c 



Fig 34 Horizontal Section through Upper part of Ahdomen. 

 (BUdinger.) 



a Liver 6 stomach ; c, transverse colon ; d, spleen : , kidneys ; f, pancrea 

 g, inferior vena cava ; ft, aorta with thoracic duct behind it. 



three surfaces, gastric, renal, and phrenic, well shown 

 in Fig. 34. 



Injuries. Although extremely friable in structure, 

 the normal spleen is not very frequently raptured. 

 Its connections, indeed, tend to minimise the effects 

 of concussions and contusions. It is swung up by the 

 peritoneum, rests upon the elastic costo-colic fold, and 

 is protected by the stomach and lungs to a considerable 

 extent. When the spleen, however, is enlarged, it is 

 very readily ruptured, and often by quite insignificant 

 violence. Thus, several cases have been recorded of 

 rupture of an enlarged spleen by muscular violence. 



