It is a production of the peritoneum, including the vena porta and biliary duct in the liver. It is also called vagina portae. Glisson first described it particularly.

Capsula cordis. See Pericardium.

Capsulae: atrabilariae, renales. Also called glandule supra renales, et renales; renes succentu-riati.

They are two little, oblong, flat bodies, lying at the upper end and inside, or the extremity of each kidney; the right behind the vena cava, and the left behind the spleen and pancreas, being attached by vessels to those of the kidneys. When cut into, there seems to be a small cavity, containing a deep green fluid; and if viewed when fresh, a white substance where the vessels ramify; the inner part is a tender substance like the liver, so that it readily breaks down. Both the external and internal parts are vascular, and two or three large vessels may be observed in the middle. Eusta-chius was the first who described these glands. They are larger in the foetus than in the adult, but their use is not certainly known.