672 ESSAY ON THE DESCRIPTIVE ANATOMY OF THE 
impracticable; so difficult is it to bear in mind the precise sources 
whence is derived much of the knowledge contributed by indi- 
viduals for the benefit of mankind. 
In the following pages I intend restricting myself to a special 
plan of writing, so that I shall first indicate the parts to be 
described, beginning by that portion of the alimentary canal 
situated within the abdomen, in the widest acceptation of the 
latter term, and then consider the other viscera, one by one, 
according to their proximity with the latter. I then intend to 
describe each viscus, both generally and specially — generally, 
including definition, position, attachment, shape, and relation to 
other organs; specially, restricting myself to the exposition of 
all such facts as I can appreciate by the naked eye in dissec- 
tion ; thus considering the external and internal aspect of each 
separate organ, with other specialities proper to its external and 
internal configuration. 
The organs of the abdomen are the stomach and intestine. 
Nearest the stomach we have the spleen and liver, and in close 
proximity to the intestine we have the pancreas. We may then 
take the kidneys, supra-renal capsules, bladder, and urethra ; 
also the vasa deferentia, vesiculae seminales, prostate and Cow- 
per’s glands. 
It may be well to preface the description of the individual 
organs by the remark, that the great importance of perspicuity 
and precision in anatomical detail has urged the necessity of 
dividing the abdomen proper into certain regions. This essen- 
tially consists in drawing two imaginary lines, the one from the 
last false rib on the one side to the same one on the other side 
of the abdomen ; the second, from one antero-inferior spinous 
process of the ileum to the other, so as to divide the abdomen 
proper into three zones, i. e. into an anterior epigastric, middle 
umbilical, and posterior hypogastric. These are again divided 
by two parallel lines drawn from the cartilage of the eighth rib 
on either side back to the inner side of the thigh, so that the 
anterior one is divided into a middle epigastric and each lateral 
hypochondriac region ; the middle one consists of the central 
umbilical and right and left lumbar regions, and the posterior 
one is constituted of the pubic and the right and left iliac 
Peritoneum. 
The whole of the viscera contained within the abdomen 
proper, including the anterior part of the rectum, bladder, and 
vasa deferentia, are either entirely or partially covered by or 
in contact with peritoneum. This is a serous membrane re- 
flected also over the parietes of the abdomen, so that a parietal 
and visceral or reflected portion require notice. Like other 
