SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM. 423 



parts in the abdomen, as follows : The phrenic plexus follows 

 the phrenic artery and its branches, to the diaphragm. The 

 coeliac plexus subdivides into the gastric, hepatic, and splenic 

 plexuses, which are distributed to organs as their names in- 

 dicate. From the solar plexus, different plexuses are given 

 off, which pass to the kidneys, the suprarenal capsules, the 

 testes, in the male, and the ovaries, in the female, the intes- 

 tines, by the superior and the inferior mesenteric plexuses, 

 the upper part of the rectum, the abdominal aorta, and the 

 vena cava. The filaments follow the distribution of the 

 blood-vessels in the solid viscera. 



The lumbar ganglia, four in number, are situated in the 

 lumbar region, upon the bodies of the vertebrae. They are 

 connected with the ganglia above and below and with each 

 other by the sympathetic cord, receiving, like the other gan- 

 glia, filaments from the spinal nerves. Their branches of 

 distribution form the aortic lumbar plexus and the hypogas- 

 tric plexus, and follow the course of the blood-vessels. 



The four or five sacral ganglia and the ganglion impar 

 are situated by the inner side of the sacral foramina and in 

 front of the coccyx. These are connected with the ganglia 

 above and with each other, and receive filaments from the 

 sacral nerves, there being generally two branches of com- 

 munication for each ganglion. The filaments of distribution 

 go to all of the pelvic viscera and the blood-vessels. The 

 inferior hypogastric, or pelvic plexus is a continuation of the 

 hypogastric plexus above, and receives a few filaments from 

 the sacral ganglia. The most interesting branches from this 

 plexus are the uterine nerves, which go to the uterus -and 

 the Fallopian tubes. In the substance of the uterus, the 

 nerves are connected with small collections of ganglionic 

 cells, which were described in 1839, by Dr. Robert Lee. 1 

 The sympathetic filaments are undoubtedly prolonged into 

 the upper and lower extremities, following the course of the 

 blood-vessels, and are distributed to their muscular coat. 



LEE, Memoir on the Ganglia and Nerves of the Uterus, London, 1849. 



