Mesentery

Mesentery (Gr. meson, 'middle;' enteron, 'the intestine') is the broad fold of peritoneum (the great serous membrane of the abdomen) which attaches the intestines (strictly the small intestine; for special names have been given to the corresponding structure in connection with the different parts of the large intestine) posteriorly to the vertebral column. It serves to retain the intestines in their place, while it at the same time allows the necessary amount of movement, and it contains between its layers the blood-vessels and nerves which pass to them, the lacteal vessels, and mesenteric glands. These glands are 100 to 150 in number, and are about the size of an almond. They exert an organising action on the contents of the lacteals, the chyle being more abundant in fibrin and in corpuscles after it has passed through them. The only disease of any importance affecting these glands is Tubercle (q.v.), which, when extensively developed in them, is sometimes called tubes mesenterica.