838 PHYSIOLOGY OF DIGESTION AND SECRETION. 



in the volume of the kidney causes a proportional outflow of oil 

 from the oncometer, which is measured by the recorder, and 

 every diminution in volume is accompanied by a reverse change. 

 At the same time the flow of urine during these changes can be 

 determined by inserting a cannula into the ureter and measuring 

 directly the outflow of urine. By this and other means it has 

 been shown that the kidney receives a rich supply of vasoconstrictor 

 nerve fibers that reach it between and around the entering blood 

 vessels. These fibers emerge from the spinal cord chiefly in the 

 lower thoracic spinal nerves (tenth to thirteenth in the dog) , pass 

 through the sympathetic system, and reach the organ as postgan- 

 glionic fibers. Stimulation of these nerves causes a contraction of 

 the small arteries of the kidney, a shrinkage in volume of the whole 

 organ as measured by the oncometer (see Fig. 240), and a dimin- 

 ished secretion of urine. When, on the other hand, these con- 

 strictor fibers are cut as they enter the hilus of the kidney, the ar- 

 teries are dilated on account of the removal of the tonic action of 

 the constrictor fibers, the organ enlarges, and a greater quantity 

 of blood passes through it, since the resistance to the blood-flow is 

 diminished while the general arterial pressure in the aorta remains 

 practically the same. Along with this greater flow of blood there 

 is a marked increase in the secretion of urine. 



Under normal conditions we must suppose that these fibers are 

 brought into play to a greater or less extent by reflex stimulation, 

 and thus serve to control the blood-flow through the kidney and 

 thereby influence its functional activity. It has been shown, too, 

 that the kidney receives vasodilator nerve-fibers, — that is, fibers 

 which when stimulated directly or reflexly cause a dilatation of 

 the arteries, and therefore a greater flow of blood through the or- 

 gan. According to Bradford, these fibers emerge from the spinal 

 cord mainly in the anterior roots of the eleventh, twelfth, and thir- 

 teenth thoracic spinal nerves. Under normal conditions these fibers 

 are probably thrown into action by reflex stimulation and lead to 

 an increased functional activity. It will be seen, therefore, that the 

 kidneys possess a local nervous mechanism through which their 

 secretory activity may be increased or diminished by correspond- 

 ing alterations in the blood-supply. So far as is known, this is the 

 only way in which the secretion in the kidneys can be directly af- 

 fected by the central nervous system. It should be borne in mind, 

 also, that the blood-flow through the kidneys, and therefore their 

 secretory activity, may be affected by conditions influencing general 

 arterial pressure. Conditions such as asphyxia, strychnin poison- 

 ing, or painful stimulation of sensory nerves, which cause a general 

 vasoconstriction, influence the kidney in the same way, and tend, 

 therefore, to diminish the flow of blood through it; while conditions 



