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THe Glands confining on the Kidneys, * 1.1 are therefore called by Learned Bartholomaeus Eustachius (the first discoverer of them) Glandulae Re∣nibus Incumbentes: By Bartholine, Capsulae Atrabilariae: By Diemerbroeck, Glandulae Renales: By Casserius, Renes Succenturiati.
These soft Glandulous bodies, * 1.2 are seated under the Midriff, looking to∣ward the Cava, and lean on the upper region of the fat Tunicle, to which they are firmly affixed.
The left Gland hath greater vicinity with the Diaphragme, and is seated somewhat higher then the right, which is near to the Vena Cava: But in Bruits, they are observed to be placed at a greater distance from the Kid∣neys, by the interposition of Fat, by which they are brought nearer to the Midriff.
These Glands are adorned with variety of Figures, * 1.3 sometime Squarish, or Quadrangular, other times Triangular, and rarely Orbicular, and most commonly they do somewhat resemble the Kidneys in shape; and are some∣times so broad and flattish, that they seem after some manner to be like the Secundine of a Woman. They have largest Dimensions above, and do end in a kind of a Conick Figure, and have variety of Surfaces, in some parts convex, and in other concave.
Bauhinus is of an Opinion, * 1.4 that they are much greater in an Embryo, then in a Child of years, which opposeth Autopsy, and are much larger in Animals, which exceed others in bulk; and do not decay in Persons, attain∣ing unto Maturity of years, and are not emaciated in Hectick Fevers: Of which Doctor Wharton hath given an account, in a Child dead of a Con∣sumption, who being Dissected, had sound and large Glands adjoyning to the Kidneys.
These Glands are covered with a thin Tunicle (as with a fine Veil) composed of very small Filaments curiously spun, * 1.5 and passing long-ways, cross-ways, and obliquely, are so closely struck, and finely interwoven by the dexterous hand of Nature, that the Interstices of the Filaments, cannot be discovered by the quickest Eye.
They have plain Cavities (though of small Dimensions) which are scarce receptive of little Peas, * 1.6 and are most conspicuous in an Embryo, whose Sinus are filled with a kind of black gross Matter, huing their inward Surface.
Learned Doctor Wharton, hath discovered many Holes in the Cavity re∣lating to the Glands, which I humbly conceive, are the Terminations of Vessels, coming from the substance of these Glands, which discharge some Liquor into their Cavity, which have a passage into the Emulgent Vein, in the left Side, and into the Cava in the right.
These Glandulous bodies have Arteries and Veins from the Emulgents, or rather from the Trunks of the Aorta and Cava, and Nerves in each side from the Par Vagum, whose Branches derived from each side, are conjoyn∣ed and make a Plex (to which these Glands are fastned) and do borrow many Fibrils from it.