_The descending colon_ passes downward through the left hypochondriac region and lumbar region along the outer border of the left kidney. At the lower end of the left kidney it turns inward where it terminates in the formation of the sigmoid flexure. The descending colon is held to the back wall by folds of the peritoneum. The sigmoid flexure, the narrowest part of the colon, is situated in the left inguinal region and communicates with the rectum. =The Rectum.=—The rectum is the terminal part of the large intestines, and extends from the termination of the sigmoid flexure to the anus. The adult rectum in male is from four to six inches in length, and in the female is from three to five inches in length. _The anus_ is the terminal opening of the alimentary canal. =Liver.=—The liver is the largest gland in the body, and is situated in the upper and right part of the abdominal cavity, occupying almost the whole of the right hypochondriac, the greater part of the epigastric, and extending almost to the middle of the left hypochondriac region. In the male it weighs from fifty to sixty ounces, and in the female, from forty to fifty. It is relatively much larger in the foetus, being about one-eighteenth of the body weight in the foetus, and in the adult, about one-thirty-sixth of the body weight. Its greatest width is from seven to eight inches, is about twelve inches long, and in its greatest thickness about three inches. The liver is very soft and is easily lacerated and friable; its color is a dark reddish brown. To obtain a correct idea of its shape, you might compare it to a wedge, the base of which is directed to the right, and thin edge toward the left. The liver has five surfaces, superior, inferior, anterior, posterior and right lateral. The liver has five lobes, right and left, caudate, quadrate, and lobus spigelii. It has five ligaments, right and left lateral or triangular, falciform, coronary and round. The liver has five fissures, the umbilical, the fissure of the ductus venosus, the transverse fissure, the fissure for the gall bladder, the fissure for the vena cava. These fissures can be represented by the letter H. Fissure of | BACK | Fissure Ductus | | inferior L venosus | | vena R E | Transverse | cava I F ———————————+——————————————+—————————— G T Umbilical | | Fissure H fissure | FRONT | for gall T | | bladder | |