THE VEINS 327 



i. The phrenic veins are small veins in the substance 

 of the diaphragm, opening into the vena cava 

 as it passes through. 



ii. The hepatic veins are large vessels returning 

 blood from the several lobes of the liver, and 

 opening into the portion of the vena cava im- 

 bedded in the liver. There are four chief ones. 



To see the hepatic veins, ligature the vena cava, both in 



front of and behind the liver : cut across the vena cava, 



remove the liver, and lay it on the dissecting-board with the 



dorsal surface upwards : slit open the vena cava ; wash out the 



contained blood ; note the openings of the hepatic veins, and 



follow these with a seeker into the several lobes of the liver. 



iii. The renal veins are a pair of large veins 



running inwards from the kidneys to the vena 



cava, the right and shorter one being about 



three-quarters of an inch in front of the left. 



Each renal vein receives a small vein from 

 the corresponding adrenal body, and a much 

 larger one from the dorsal wall of the abdomen, 

 iv. The spermatic veins in the male [or ovarian 

 veins in the female] are a pair of small veins 

 returning blood from the testes [or ovaries], 

 and opening into the vena cava near the 

 hinder end of the abdomen. The left one 

 frequently opens into the renal vein, or the 

 Uio-lumbar vein. 

 V. The ilio-lumbar veins are paired, and return 

 blood from the hinder part of the abdominal 

 walls, opening into the vena cava about the 

 level of the anterior border of the thigh. The 

 left one often receives the spermatic [or ova- 

 rian] vein, and opens into the renal vein, 

 vi. The external iliac veins are a pair of large 

 veins returning blood from the hind-limbs, 

 and opening into the vena cava at the hinder 

 end of the abdomen, about an inch in front of 



