NERVUS SPLANCHNICUS A:ND ADRENALS 



43 



slip running backwards and dorsally, the right pillar of the diaphragm (PI. Ill, 

 fig. 4). On this and between it and psoas the splanchnic nerve (s) is seen as 

 a smallish nerve-trunk running backwards and somewhat ventrally, sloping as 

 though to reach the anterior end of the kidney, but plunging into fatty tissue 

 closely posterior to the free edge of the diaphragm pillar. Expose the nerve 

 without actually touching it ; in exposing it avoid rupturing any of the blood- 

 vessels, large or small, because a very little blood will much obscure the parts. 



As the nerve is followed head wards there will be seen a smaller nerve 

 which lies close to it in its headward portion but diverges from it as it passes 

 backward. This is the main sympathetic trunk ; if doubt is felt as to its 

 recognition, following it posteriorly soon discovers a ganglion which is one of 

 the vertebral of the sympathetic chain. 



Return to the kidney ; care^ally explore its headward end without 

 damaging and note the opaque buff-coloured adrenal body surmounting it 

 and about the size of a coffee-bean. Exploring with the scalpel-handle towards 

 the deep side of the adrenal body, note the wide short vein passing from the 

 body to the inferior vena cava. Pushing carefully across the_^ventral face of 

 the vena cava at a level about 12 mm. posterior, expose the similar vein of the 

 left adrenal body. 



[V. i. 



Pass with the bent mounted needle a double ligature round the Obs, 27. 



Central end of 

 n. splanehnicus 

 on art. pressure. 



Text-fig. 20. Effect of stimulation of central end of splanchnic nerve on 

 arterial pressure ; decapitate preparations (B. G. V. Melle and J. L. Shipley), 

 zap, zero-level of pressure; s, signal marking time of faradization; 12cm., 

 distance of secondary coil ; 1", movement of drum in sees. 



exposed r. splanchnic nerve. Tie the two ligatures and sever the nerve 

 between them. 



G 2 



