Abdomen Sectional Atlas: section 2
The second section, through T10, sections the dome of the liver where faint traces of the hepatic veins can be seen converging toward the hepatic portion of the inferior vena cava (see Right Upper Quadrant Anatomy). The aorta is still to the left of the midline in the lower posterior mediastinum and the esophagus lies directly anterior to it. When exploring an abdomen with no nasogastric tube in place, the aortic pulsation is the guide to the location of the esophagus.
Abdomen Sectional Atlas: section 4
At the bottom of T11, the portal vein is seen in the hepatic hilum. The esophago-gastric junction is seen. The body of the spleen is partially separated from the body of the stomach by the prominent splenic flexure in this individual (see Spleen Anatomy).
