736 A MANUAL OF ANATOMY 



superior mesenteric artery. It extends from one suprarenal capsule 

 to the other, and is composed of nerve-fibres and ganglia, with an 

 admixture of adipose tissue. The plexus receives its chief fibres 

 from the great and small splanchnic nerves of each side, which 

 contain a large number of spinal fibres. The great splanchnic nerve is 

 formed by roots derived usually from the fifth to the ninth thoracic 

 sympathetic ganglia inclusive, and it enters the abdomen by piercing 

 the crus of the diaphragm. The small splanchnic nerve arises by 

 two roots from the tenth and eleventh thoracic ganglia, and it also 

 enters the abdomen by piercing the crus of the diaphragm. The 

 plexus also receives fibres from the right pneumogastric nerve. 

 Two of the ganglia of the solar plexus are of large size, and are 

 situated one at either lateral pole. They are called the semilunar 

 ganglia, right and left. Each lies over the corresponding crus of 

 the diaphragm close to the suprarenal body, that of the right side 

 being under cover of the inferior vena cava, and each receives at its 

 upper part the great splanchnic nerve. The lower part of each 

 ganglion is more or less detached, and is known as the aortico-renal 

 ganglion, which lies over the root of the renal artery, and in which 

 the small splanchnic nerve terminates. From each semilunar 

 ganglion branches proceed in a radiating manner upwards, out- 

 wards, downwards, and inwards. The inner group of fibres extend 

 from one ganglion to the other, embracing the coeliac axis as they 

 cross the aorta, and forming the cceliac plexus, which receives fibres 

 from the right pneumogastric nerve, and contains numerous small 

 ganglia. 



The coeliac plexus furnishes three secondary plexuses — gastric, 

 splenic, and hepatic. The gastric plexus accompanies the corre- 

 sponding artery to the small curvature of the stomach, and 

 supplies branches to the adjacent portions of the anterior and 

 posterior surfaces of that organ. The splenic plexus goes with the 

 splenic artery, and receives branches from the right pneumogastric 

 nerve. It is distributed, with the branches of the artery, to the pan- 

 creas, cardiac extremity of the stomach, left half of its great curva- 

 ture and adjacent portions of its surfaces, and the spleen. The hepatic 

 plexus accompanies the artery of that name, and receives branches 

 from the left pneumogastric nerve. Its distribution corresponds 

 with that of the artery, and its offshoots are as follows : pyloric to 

 the small curvature of the stomach ; gastro-duodenal, dividing into 

 right gastro-epiploic to the great curvature of the stomach, 

 and superior pancreatico-duodenal to the head of the pancreas, 

 and the first and second parts of the duodenum ; cystic to the gall- 

 bladder ; and hepatic to the liver. 



The diaphragmatic or phrenic plexus receives its fibres from the 

 upper part of the semilunar ganglion, and it accompanies the 

 inferior phrenic artery to the diaphragm, giving branches in its 

 course to the suprarenal plexus. 



The suprarenal plexus receives its fibres from the semilunar 

 ganglion and coeliac plexus. It contains small ganglia, and is 



