CHAP. XVI. Of the Mesentery.
AFter the Guts followes the Mesentery, being partly of a fatty and partly of a spermaticke substance. The greatnesse of it is apparent enough, al∣though * 1.1 in some it be bigger, and in some lesser according to the great∣nesse * 1.2 of the body. It is of a round figure and not very thicke. It is com∣posed of a double coate arising from the beginning and roote of the peritonaeum. * 1.3 In the midst thereof it admits nerves from the Costall of the sixt conjugation, veines from the Vena Porta or Gate veine; Arteries from the descendant artery, over and besides a great quantity of fat and many glandulous bodyes, to prop vp the division of the vessels spred over it, as also to moisten their substance. It is in num∣ber one, scituate in the middle of the guts, from whence it tooke its name. Yet some divide it into two parts, to wit, into the Meseraeum, that is, the portion interwoven * 1.4 with the small guts, and into the Mesocolon which is joined with the Great. It hath connexion by its vessells with the principall parts, by its whole substance with the * 1.5 guts, and in some sort with the kidneies, from whose region it seemes to take its coats.
It is of a cold and moist temper, if you have respect to his fatty substance; but if to the rest of the parts, cold and drye. * 1.6
The action and use of it is, to bind and hold together the guts, each in his place, least they should rashly be folded together; and by the Meseraicke veines (which they * 1.7 terme the hands of the Liver) carry the Chylus to the liver.
In which you must note, that all the Meseraicke ueines come from the liver, as we understand by the dissection of bodyes; although some have affirmed, that there bee * 1.8 some veines serving for the nourishment of the guts, no wayes appertaining to the Liver, but which end in certaine Glandulous bodyes, dispersed through the Mesente∣ry, of whose use we will treat hereafter.