DeWitt, Nerves in the CEsophagus. 395 



said that the oesophagus receives its motor and secretory inner- 

 vation through sympathetic neurones the cell bodies of which 

 are situated in the ganglia in the intermuscular (Auerbach's) 

 and the submucous (Meissner's) plexuses, the neuraxes of which 

 terminate on the non-striped muscle of the muscular coat and 

 of the muscularis mucosae and on the gland cells of the sub- 

 mucosa in those portions of the oesophagus in which glands are 

 found. These sympathetic neurones are, in part at least, con- 

 nected to the cerebro spinal system by white rami or pregan- 

 glionic fibers, which terminate in intracapsular end-baskets sur- 

 rounding the cell bodies. In so far as the muscular wall of the 

 oesophagus consists of striated muscle, it receives its motor 

 innervation through meduUated fibers, the neuraxes of motor 

 neurones, the cell bodies of which are situated in the anterior 

 horn of the spinal cord, and which terminate in motor end- 

 plates as in voluntary, striated muscle in other parts of the 

 body. The oesophagus receives its sensory innervation through 

 the dendrites of spinal ganglion cells which terminate in free 

 sensory endings in the adventitia of the blood vessel walls and 

 in the epithelial lining of the mucosa and of the gland ducts. 

 There are in addition sympathetic neurones, the cell bodies of 

 which are situated in the ganglia of the oesophageal plexuses 

 and along their nerve trunks, the neuraxes of which are be- 

 lieved to terminate in other sympathetic ganglia or in the spinal 

 ganglia, while the mode of termination of the dendrites 

 has not yet been determined ; these are the so-called sensory 

 sympathetic neurones which may be concerned in the establish- 

 ment of peripheral sympathetic reflexes. 



I desire to acknowlege my indebtedness and to express 

 my sincere gratitude to Professor Huber for many valuable sug- 

 gestions and for other help rendered in the prosecution of this 

 work. 



