On the anatomy of the great anteater (Myrmecophaga jubata, Linn.) / by Professor Owen.

  • Owen, Richard, Sir, 1804-1892
Date:
[1854]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the anatomy of the great anteater (Myrmecophaga jubata, Linn.) / by Professor Owen. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    One common duplicature of peritoneum, continued from the middle of the back part of the abdomen, and eighteen inches in extent where it is broadest, at the junction of the ileum with the colon, supports the whole intestinal canal, as in most reptiles,—mesentery, mesocolon and mesorectum being one and the same fold : the shorter diameter of this fold is from eight to ten inches. The mesenteric part is puckered to support the convolutions of the small intestines. A mesenteric gland of a dark colour is continued along the base-line of these plicae for the extent of sixteen inches, beginning at the duodenal end of the pancreas and ending with the ileum. Parallel with this, on what may be regarded as the base-line of the mesocolon, are a number of detached glands of the same dark colour, and flattened, like the long mesenteric gland, but of a subcircular form, and from three lines to twelve lines in diameter. The mesenteric artery forms one series of arches, with their convexity at from six to twelve lines distance from the gut. The mesocolic vessels form also one series of arches, w7hich are close to the gut. The duodenum, arching round the head of the pancreas, is suspended on the beginning of the mesentery, where it is from two to three inches broad ; and it is continued into the jejunum without being tied by a contraction of the mesentery to the back of the abdomen, as in most Mammalia. The right lobe of the liver is suspended to the dome of the diaphragm by a right coronary ligament, and a duplicature of peritoneum con- nects the extremity of that hepatic lobe to the upper part of the right kidney. There is also a left coronary ligament: a fold of peritoneum two inches broad connects the left lobe of the liver with the stomach at the fore part of the cardia ; and a more posterior fold connects the left lobe of the liver to the left suprarenal body and left kidney. The peritoneum passes over the under surface (sternal aspect) of the kidneys, and over the same part of the right suprarenal body : it affords a more entire covering to the left suprarenal body. The peritoneal folds called ‘ broad ligaments ’ begin to be reflected from the front of the lower ends of the kidneys, converging to sustain the ovaria and enclose the ovarian ligaments, fallopian tubes, uterus, and ureters. The urinary bladder wras empty and corrugated : the urachal fold, reflected from the middle of its fore part to near the fundus, expands as it extends to the lower part of the linea alba, terminating above at the obliterated umbilicus which is situated six inches above the symphysis pubis. A flat glandular body about the size of an almond was situated in the urachal fold : it might be the debris of part of an umbilical*sac. Two narrow ureteral folds of peritoneum diverge from the back part of the urinary bladder to the broad liga- ments. The length of the female from the muzzle to the vent was four feet seven inches ; the length of the head was fourteen inches ; that of the tail thirty-three inches. The total length of the intestinal canal was thirty-four feet; the small intestines measuring thirty feet in length. The ileum dilates rapidly into the colon, which commences without any caecal projection. The greatest circumference of the duodenum is two and a half inches : VOL. iv.—PART IV. T
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