The large intestine is a canal of about two or three inches in diameter, and seven feet in length. It is divided into the cce cum, colon, and reetinn. The excum is a bag situated in the right groin, and receiv ing the termination of the ilium. The latter interstice enters in such a manner, that the passage of the aliment is alloyed from it into the crecurn, but prevented from returning. , The part which effects this is called the valvtda coll. A small process, about equal in size to an earth worm, is connected to the circum. It i,s called appenclix cecci vermiforrnis, and its use is unknown.
From the right groin the intestine ascends on the right side of th e abdomen over the kidney, under the name of co lon: it turns completely over the abdomen at the upper part, and descends alongthe left side to the left groin; here it makes a large turn over the brim of the pelvis, and enters that cavity, where it takes the name of rectum, which terminates at the anus. We distinguish in the colon the right or ascending portion; the middle or trans verse arch ; the left or descending; and the sigmoid flexure. The r:ght and left portions of this gut are closely bound down in their situations by two portions of peritoneum, called ligament; coli. The transverse arch has a broad process con. nected to it, by which it is loosely attack ed : this is called the mesocolon.
The large intestines have a peritoneal, a muscular, and a villous coat ; but they haV'e no valvulx conniventes, The longi tudinal inuscular fibres are collected into three bands, which, behig sh ort er than the rest' of the intestine, occasion the other coats to be gftalsered up in folds between ithem, and thereby give the intestine a sae culated appearance.
The residue of the alimentary matter, which the large iocestine receives from the Tall, in converted in the former ca nal into a substance of peculiar odour, colour, and consistence, called fxces; whiott form it is expelled from the body.
Parts subservient to the functions of the 0E mentary canal, and contained in the cavity of the abdomen.
The liver is the largest glandular mass in the body, aud is placed towards the right side of the epigastric region. Its thickest portion fills the right bypochon dritim; a thinnerpart of the gland extends across the middle of the epigustric region to the left hypochondritun. Its size is greater in proportion as the animal is younger. In the adult it is contained within the cartilages of the ribs; but in the firtus it extends to the navel, and fills half the belly. Its upper surface is con vex, and inclose contact with the concave under surface of the diaphragm. Its under
or concave surface rests chiefly on the stomach. It is divided into a right and left lobe, and lobulus spigelii. It Ins a posterior alai thick, an anterior and,thin, nurgiti. Its colour, in the most healthy state, is ofa reddishiltowiK but it often deviates from this. Its weigilt, in an adult man of middl i ngstature, is about 3 pounds. it is connected to the diaphragm by four ligaments, Dir. 1. ligamentum latum, or sospepsorium, which divides the right and left lobes fmm each otiker. The front edge of this part contains the fibrous re mains of the umbilical cord of the fcetus, which, assItmi ng the appearance of around rope, is called the round ligament. 2,3. Ligamenta lateralia, or dextrum, et sinis trum. 4. Ligamentum cognarium.
The liver is covered exteriorlyby peri toneum, and there are certain fi ssures and excavations on its surface. 1. Fossa, for the gall-bladder, in the under surface of the right lobe. 2. Fissure on the anterior thin margin, for the entmnce of the umbi lical vein. 3. Portz, or large transverse notch, at which the blood-vessels enter, and from which the li epatic duct proceeds. 4. Notch for the inferior vena cava. 5. Excavation for the bodies of the vertebrz.
The liver is composed of a tolerably firm and close substance, consisting of a closely united congeries of different ves sels. These vessels are the vena porta rum, the hepatic artery, the hepatic veins, and the biliary ducts. The former vessel carries to the liver the blood which has circulated throur,11 the different alidomig nal viscem. It ramifies in the liver like an artery, and tht secretion of the bile is supposed to take place from the blood which it conveys to the liver. The.blood of this vein, as well as that broil ghtly thc hepatic artery, for the nourishn..-nt of the liver, is returned -by the large .liopatic veins to the inferior vcna cave. The smidl bmnches of the hepatic duct, which conveys the secreted bile from the liver, appear like small yellow pores, when a section of the liver is made, and hence they. are called pori biliarii.
The mesogaster, or little °mention, is attached to the portz of the liver. The vena portarum, the binary ducts, the he patic artery', and the hepatic plexus of nerves, pass along the right side of this process; and the part in which they are situated is called the capsula Glissoni. Under the edge of this part is an opening, leading to tile bag. of the great omentum, and called the foramen epiploicum.