THE DIGESTIVE TRACT. 



layers form long-meshed capillary net-works, from which the muscle- 

 bundles and fibrous tissue derive their supply. 



The larger lymphatic trunks accompany the blood-vessels and 

 form a coarse plexus within the submucous tissue ; a much closer 

 net-work of smaller lymphatics occupies the deeper part of the 

 mucosa, from which radicles ascend between the glands to end 

 beneath the epithelium in slightly dilated blind extremities. 

 Peripherally -situated lymph-vessels drain the masses of adenoid 

 tissue. In addition to the lymphatics of the mucosa, the larger 

 vessels of the submucosa take up those from the muscular coat. 



The nerves of the stomach, after piercing the serous coat, take 

 up a position between the circular and longitudinal, muscular layers, 

 in which situation they form a rich plexus, consisting of both medul- 



FIG. 204. 



._ -- '- 



Surface views of nervous plexuses of stomach of young child. A , Auerbach's plexus : g; groups 

 of ganglion-cells ; r, underlying muscular tissue. B, Meissner's plexus : g, groups of ganglion-cells ; 

 b, blood-vessel. (After SfoAr.) 



lated and pale fibres ; at the nodal points of this net-work numerous 

 microscopic ganglia are situated, the whole forming the intramuscular 

 ganglionic plexus of Auerbach. 



From this plexus fibres are distributed to the serous coat and to 

 the longitudinal layer of muscle, as well as to the outer part of the 

 circular layer. The intramuscular net-work is continued by numerous 

 small bundles of fibres, which, after piercing the inner layer of cir- 

 cular muscle, and giving off lateral twigs to the inner part of the 

 same, enter the submucosa to form there a second ganglionic plexus 

 similar to the one lying between the muscular layers : this is the 

 plexus of Meissner. The submucous plexus sends off numerous 

 fibres into the mucosa, which are distributed beneath the epithelium 



