Fig. 13. The peritoneal linings of the anterior walls of both abdominal cavities. A, A. The summits of the bladders. B, B. The umbilical ligaments. C, C. The nodules of fat at the parietal scar. D, D. The isolated lobules of fat.
5. The ensiform cartilages.—After removing the diaphragms the cartilages were exposed. They may be described as follows:—
Chang.—The cartilage measured 2-1/2 in. wide, and 8 in. in length along its axis. The right border was very prominent, and projected 1/2 in. beyond the limit of the corresponding border in Eng. It was almost in close contact with the cartilage of the eighth rib; it was very robust, with upper surface convex, under surface nearly plane. The left lateral border was 2-1/2 in. in length, right lateral border 11 lines in length. The former was marked by three tubercles of about equal size. One situated about 1 in. from the sternal origin; the other about 2 in. from the same point; the third at its extreme anterior border. None of these were robust, or presented any of the thickening noticed on the right side. The middle of these tubercles was on a line with that of the posterior tubercle. The junction of the ensiform process with the sternum was not marked by the eminence characterizing the similar point in Eng.
Eng.—The cartilage differed from that of Chang in being 2-1/3 in. wide, 11 lines in length of axis. The left lateral border was abruptly deflected downward, and did not present the transverse smooth projection noticed in Chang. This deflection was almost at right angles to the dorsal surface, acuminate inferiorly, and presenting a straight surface toward Chang, and an oblique one toward the ribs. The length of left lateral border was 1 in. The right lateral border, 1-1/3 in. in length, presented a smooth sub-rounded edge without tubercles, and terminated in a free rounded border on a plane a little above that of Chang. On the whole this border was more robust than that of Chang. On the dorsal aspect of the process near its base was seen the rounded eminence described in the account of the external appearances (see page 7).
A comparison between the two ensiform cartilages shows that in Chang the anterior border was longer than in the right in Eng. In other proportions Eng’s was equal if not larger than Chang’s, and was more robust.
Fig. 14. A section of both ensiform cartilages, C. R., E. L. A. Chang’s cartilage. B. Eng’s cartilage. C. The synchondrosis. D. The bursa-like sac covering the same. E. An opening in the sac. F. Transversalis muscle of Eng. G. Transversalis muscle of Chang.
The union between the cartilages was of the character of a symphysis. The union was very intimate along the border E. L., C. R., “posterior” (Fig. [14]); the exposure of the junction by a delicate transverse cut showed a close union between the cartilages, thus constituting this part of the band a synchondrosis. That this, however, did not characterize the entire line of apposition was at once seen by turning to the border E. R., C. L. (“anterior”), where an interval, two lines in width, was seen between the cartilages, an interval which had been evidently susceptible of variation during life. This interval extended across one-fourth the width of the band. The portion of the band between the parts as above indicated, was occupied by a bursa-like sac (Fig. [14], D), which was opened by a minute orifice (E) to display its true nature. This sac was crossed above by a stout band of fibrous tissue (Fig. [15], A) an inch in width. Beneath, the sac was protected by a less well-defined band of the same width as the upper ligament, and which crossed between the two processes, to be lost in the perichondrium.
