476 



DIGESTIVE SYSTEM OF THE SHEEP 



to the right of the median plane. The parietal surface is related almost exclusively 

 to the right part of the diaphragm. The visceral surface presents extensive reticular 

 and abomasal impressions, and a small omasal impression medial to the portal 

 fissure. The umbilical fissure is deep and partially divides the gland into two 

 chief lobes, dorsal and ventral. The caudate lobe is prismatic and blunt-pointed. 

 The oesophageal notch is represented by a slight impression. The gall-bladder is 

 long and narrow. The bile-duct joins the pancreatic duct to form a common bile- 

 duct (Ductus choledochus communis), which opens into the duodenum about one 

 foot (ca. 30 cm.) from the pylorus. 



The pancreas is arranged as in the ox. Its duct unites with the bile- 

 duct. 



The spleen (Fig. 405) is approximately triangular, with the angles rounded off; 



Renal impression 



Caudate lobe 



Posterior vena 

 cava 



Portal vein 



Hepatic artery 



Omasal impres- 

 sion 



Lesser omentum. 



Reticular impres- 

 sion 



Bile-duct 



Cystic duct 



Gall-bladder 



Umbilical 

 fissure 



Abo7nasal 

 ■ impression 



Fig. 409 — Liveb of Sheep, Visceral Surface; Hardened in situ. 



the wider end or base is dorsal. It weighs about three or four ounces (ca. 100 grams). 

 Its length is about five to six inches (ca. 12 to 15 cm.), and its greatest width three 

 to four inches (ca. 7.5-10 cm.). The long axis is oblique, and corresponds to a line 

 drawn from the vertebral end of the last rib to about the middle of the tenth inter- 

 costal space. The parietal surface is convex and is related to the diaphragm, to 

 which rather more than the anterior third is adherent; when hardened in situ, it 

 often shows impressions of the upper parts of the last three ribs. The visceral 

 surface is concave, and its anterior half is attached to the dorsal curvature of the 

 rumen. The borders are thin, the posterior one often being crenated. The dorsal 

 end or base is attached to the left crus of the diaphragm under the last two ribs; 



