BIOOD-VASCTLAR SYSTEM OF THE TILE-FISH. 



103 



surface of the vertebral column. That portion of the dorsal aorta which runs in the 

 abdominal region lies free, while that in the tail is inclosed by the haemal arches. 



Tin ccdiacomesenteric artery. The coeliacomesenteric artery (54) is not, strictly 

 speaking-, a branch of the dorsal aorta, as it arises in common with the latter and the 

 second right aortic root. It is an artery of considerable size, running caudad and 

 dividing into numerous branches. 



The first branch (55) arises about 1 cm. from the origin of the artery, runs caudad 

 along the right dorsal surface of the (esophagus and right side of the stomach, and 

 curves upon the ventral surface of the latter, where its main termination runs ventrad 

 and caudad, in the gastrohepatic omentum, as the left hepatic artery (67). It gives off 

 the following vessels: (a) Oesophageal branches (56) to the right side of the oeso- 

 phagus; (b) the right ovarian or spermatic artery {57), which is given off at the 

 junction of the oesophagus and stomach and runs directly caudad to supply the geni- 

 tal gland; (c) a small branch (58) which is given off on the ventral surface of the 

 stomach and crosses the ductus choledochus to the central portion of the liver; 

 (d) several small gastric branches (59), which run to the ventral surface of the stomach 



Fig. 14. — Ventral .mis of the efferent branchial vessels and their brunches in the goose- 

 fish (Lophius piscatorius). Ventral aspect, i. 



and proximal portion of the intestine, one or two of them usually anastomosing with 

 a branch (66) of the second branch (62) of the coeliacomesenteric artery. 



The second branch (62) of the coeliacomesenteric artery arises about I cm. caudal 

 to the first. It runs caudad on the left dorsal surface of the (esophagus anil left side 

 of the stomach, dividing into a left spermatic or ovarian artery (64) which runs 

 directly caudad to supply the genital gland of the left side, and into several gastric- 

 branches (65) which supply the left side of the stomach. As stated above, one or 

 two of these gastric branches usually anastomose on the ventral surface of the 

 stomach with a gastric branch (60) of the first branch of the coeliacomesenteric. 

 The anastomosis of these two vessels (60 and 66) may form an artery (67) which runs 

 in the gastrohepatic omentum close to the left hepatic artery (61), supplying a portion 

 of the liver. The second branch of the coeliacomesenteric artery also sends out a 

 small artery (63) to the left side of the (esophagus. 



The third branch (68) of the coeliacomesenteric is a vessel of considerable size, 

 given off about opposite the middle of the stomach, and itself giving off two 

 branches (69 and 70), beyond which point it runs caudad to (Miter the swim-bladder at 



