The peritoneum, as it covers different organs or sets of organs, receives special names.
The lesser omentum consists of two layers, these split to envelope the stomach.
The greater omentum consists of four layers. Two of these layers extend from the stomach and together with two other layers of the same structure which envelope the transverse colon, form an apron for the intestines.
The mesentery consists of two layers which invests the small intestines. Between the two layers of the mesentery we find the blood vessels, nerves, lacteals, and glands, leading to and from the intestines. The mesentery is fan shaped, and is attached to the second lumbar vertebra. The length of the mesentery fan is about eight inches from commencement to termination at intestine. It extends the whole length of the intestines, which is about twenty feet.
CHAPTER IX. THE VASCULAR SYSTEM.
The Vascular System.
—The vascular system is composed of the organs immediately concerned in the circulation throughout the body of the fluids which convey to the tissues the nutritive substances and oxygen necessary for their metabolism and carry from them to the excretory organs the waste products formed during metabolism.
The system is usually regarded as being composed of two portions, the one consists of organs in which circulate the red fluid which we term blood, and called the blood vascular system, while the organs of the other contain a colorless or white fluid known as lymph or chyle, and is known as the lymphatic circulation.
| Blood vessels | arteries | ||
| The blood vascular system | capillaries | ||
| The vascular system | veins | ||
| Heart | |||
| The lymphatic circulation |