CHAP. XV. Of the Mesentery.
AFter the Guts follows the Mesentery, being partly of a fatty, and partly of spermatick substance. The greatness of it is apparent enough, although in some it be bigger, and in some lesser, according to the greatness of the body. It is of a round figure and not very thick. It is composed of a double coat arising from the beginning and root of the Perito∣naeum. In the midst thereof, it admits nerves from the Costal of the sixt Conjugation; veins from the Vena Porta, or Gate-vein; Arteries from the descendent artery, over and besides a great quantity of fat and many glandulous bodies, to prop up the division of the vessels spred over it, as also to moisten their substance. It is in number one, situate in the middle of the guts, from whence it took its name. Yet some divide it into two parts, to wit, into the Meseraeum, that is, the portion interwoven with the smal guts, and into the Meso-colon which is joyned with the Great. It hath connexion by it vessels, with the principal parts, by its whole substance with the guts, and in some sort with the kidneys, from whose region it seems 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 dry.
The action and use of it is, to bind and hold together the guts, each in his place, lest they should rashly be folded together, and by the Meseraick-veins (which they term the hands of the Liver) carry the Chylus to the Liver.
In which you must note, that all the Meseraick Veins come from the Liver, as we understand by the dissection of bodies; although some have affirmed, that there be some veins serving for the nourishment of the guts, no ways appertaining to the Liver, but which end in certain Glandu∣lous bodies, dispersed through the Mesentery, of whose use we will treat hereafter.