GLOMUS COCCYGEUM 



Glomus Caroticum (Carotid Glands; Carotid Bodies). 



1281 



The carotid bodies, two in number, are situated one on either side of the neck, 

 behind the common carotid artery at its point of bifurcation into the external 

 and internal carotid trunks. They are reddish brown in color and oval in shape, 

 the long diameter measuring about 5 mm. 





Fia. 1186. Section of part of human glomus caroticum. (Schaper.) Highly magnified. Numerous bloodvessels are 



seen in section among the gland cells. 



Each is invested by a fibrous capsule and consists largely of spherical or irregular 

 masses of cells (Fig. 1186), the masses being more or less isolated from one another 

 by septa which extend inward from the deep surface of the capsule. The cells 

 are polyhedral in shape, and each contains a large nucleus imbedded in finely 

 granular protoplasm, which is stained yellow by chromic salts. Numerous nerve 

 fibers, derived from the sympathetic plexus on the carotid artery, are distributed 

 throughout the organ, and a net-work of large sinusoidal capillaries ramifies among 

 the cells. 



- .AV 



FIG. 1187. Section of an irregular nodule of the glomus coccygeum. (Sertoli.) X 85. The section shows the 

 fibrous covering of the nodule, the bloodvessels within it, and the epithelial cells of which it is constituted. 



Glomus Coccygeum (Coccygeal Gland or Body; Luschka's Gland). 



The glomus coccygeum is placed in front of, or immediately below, the tip of the 

 coccyx. It is about 2.5 mm. in diameter and is irregularly oval in shape; several 

 smaller nodules are found around or near the main mass. 



It consists of irregular masses of round or polyhedral cells (Fig. 1187), the cells 



