314 DISSECTION OF THE RABBIT 



form masses, covering the ventral surface of the whole length 

 of the thorax and abdomen ; their ducts may be readily traced, 

 converging to the teats.] 



B. The Abdominal Viscera in situ. 



Open the abdominal cavity 'by a median incision through 

 its ventral wall, from the hinder end of the sternum to the 

 pubic symphysis, taking care not to injure the viscera. From 

 the anterior end of the incision cut outwards for about two 

 inches on each side, just behind the ribs, and pin out the flaps 

 right and left. Note the positions of the following viscera, 

 without disturbing them in any way. 



1. The liver is a large dark-red body at the anterior end of 



the abdominal cavity, extending further back on the 

 left side than on the right. 



2. The stomach lies immediately behind the Kver and is 



partially covered by it : its surface is smooth and of 

 a bluish white colour. 



3. The duodenum is a narrow pinkish tube, a small part of 



which is seen to the right of the stomach. 



4. The small intestine is a long, narrow, much convoluted 



tube, part of which is seen at the left side of the 

 abdominal cavity, behind the liver. 



5. The caecum is a very wide tube, of a dark colour, coiled 



on itself and marked by a spiral constriction. In the 

 natural position of the parts it covers almost all the 

 other viscera behind the stomach. On the right 

 side the ceecum ends in the pale fleshy vermiform 

 appendix. 



6. The colon is a wide tube, with markedly sacculated walls, 



running obliquely across the abdomen between the 

 folds of the cfficum. 



7. The rectum is a white tube, dilated at intervals by the 



faecal pellets : small parts of it are seen to the 

 right of the stomach, and at the hinder end of the 

 abdomen. 



