The Relative Position of the Colon and the Stomach

The location of the colon and its position relative to the stomach were the criteria by which Halpert and Sampson' determined roentgenologically the presence or absence of the so-called gastrocolic ligament, i.e., the grade and mode of fusion of the layers of the greater omentum in man. They distinguished: perfect f-usion, nonfusion, imperfect fusion, and irregular fusion of the layers of the greater omentum. Conclusions, however, were not drawn as to the grade and mode of fusion in such cases in which a part of the greater curvature of the stomach reached below the level of the transverse colon,-a condition observed in 5 of 600 patients at the Trudeau Sanatorium2. The present studies were undertaken to ascertain the position of the colon and its relation to the stomach in the dog, as in this animal the colon has a mesocolon throughout its length and non-fusion of the layers of the greater omentum, i.e., absence of the so-called gastrocolic ligament, is the normal condition. This approach was adopted in the hope that it would facilitate the interpretation of the above condition in man. Twelve apparently healthy dogs, weighing from 5 to 13 kilograms, were fed a meal consisting of barium sulphate 2 gm., casein and crackers 1 gm. each, and water 5 cc. per kg. of body weight eight hours previous to the examination in order to visualize the colon; at the time of examination a second meal of the same composition, but with half of the quantity of barium sulphate, was fed to outline the stomach. Roentgenograms were then taken in both the horizontal and the upright positions. An anatomic study was subsequently made to verify the roentgenologic observations and to obtain measurements of the intestinal tract. A non-fusion of the layers of the greater omentutm Was observed in all the dogs examined. The relative position of the colon and the greater curvature of the stomach closely resembled that described in man for cases of nbn-fusion of the layers of the greater omentum;