AND PHYSIOLOGY. 159 



Gastric Follicles, — The Stomach is the largest expansion of 

 the alimentary canal, situated in the upper portion of the 

 left side of the abdomen, immediately beneath the diaphragm, 

 inclining obliquely downwards from the left to the right. Its 

 walls are made up of three coats : an outer or serous, a middle 

 or muscular, and an inner or mucous. Its normal or average 

 size will allow it to contain about a solid quart, but in gor- 

 mandizers, and wine and beer drinkers, it is dilated to three 

 or four times that size. In the middle or muscular coat (Fig. 

 170) the fibers run at right angles to each other, in order that 



Fig. 170. 



A Front View of the Stomach, distended by flatus, with the Peritoneal Coat turned 

 off. 1, Anterior Face of the Esophagus. 2, The Cul-de-Sac, or greater Extremity. 

 3, The lesser or Pyloric Extremity. 4, The Duodenum. 5, 5, A portion of the Peri- 

 toneal Coat turned back. 6, A portion of the Longitudinal Fibers of the Muscular Coat. 

 7, The Circular Fibers of the Muscular Coat. 8, The Oblique Muscular Fibers, or 

 Muscle of Gavard. 9, A portion of the Muscular Coat of the Duodenum, where its Pe- 

 ritoneal Coat has been removed. 



they may contract in the most efficient manner upon the con- 

 tents of the stomach for the purpose of digestion, and forcing 

 the contents onwards into the Duodenum. They also assist 

 in forcing the contents of the stomach backward in vomiting. 

 In the inner or mucous lining are situated an immense num- 



294. Where is the Stomach situated? What is its normal size ? How many coats has 

 it and what are they ? Of what service is the muscular coat ? What glands are con- 

 tained in the mucous membrane of the stomach ? 



