920 A MANUAL OF ANATOMY 



arcuatum internum, to terminate in the renal plexus. Passing inwards 

 from each semilunar ganglion a matted leash of nerve-fibres, mixed with 

 minute ganglia, is to be dissected. These fibres meet in front of the aorta, 

 and invest the coeliac axis and root of the superior mesenteric artery, in 

 which latter situation is the superior mesenteric ganglion. The offshoots 

 from the solar plexus to be shown are as follows : inferior phrenic ; coeliac, 

 furnishing gastric, splenic, and hepatic ; superior mesenteric ; capsular ; 

 renal ; aortic ; spermatic (ovarian in the female) ; and inferior mesenteric. 

 The spermatic plexus will Ije seen to come from the renal and aortic plexuses, 

 and the aortic plexus is to be shown in two halves, right and left, which 

 communicate freely with each other over the front of the aorta. The inferior 

 mesenteric plexus will be found to arise chiefly from the left half of the aortic 

 plexus, and the inferior mesenteric ganglion is to be looked for in it, near the 

 root of the artery of that name. The various secondary plexuses will be found 

 to accompany the corresponding branches of the abdominal aorta. The two 

 halves of the aortic plexus, reinforced by branches from the ganglia of the 

 lumbar sympathetic chains, are to be followed over the common iliac arteries, 

 after which they will be found to blend, in the angle between these vessels, 

 to form the hypogastric plexus. This latter is to be shown dividing into the 

 right and left pelvic plexuses. 



Attention is next to be directed to the kidneys and suprarenal capsules. The 

 adipose tunic of the kidney is to be carefully removed, and the suprarenal 

 capsule preserved on the upper part of the organ. The great vascularity and 

 copious nerve-supply of the suprarenal capsule are to be noted, and only one vein 

 is to be looked for, emerging from each through an anterior hilum, that of the 

 right side opening into the inferior vena cava, and that of the left into the 

 renal vein of that side. The structures at the hilum of the kidney are to be 

 shown, and the relations of the organ carefully studied, the visceral areas on 

 the anterior surface of each being noted. The inferior vena cava is next to be 

 dissected, and its tributaries shown, one of these on the right side being the 

 spermatic, or ovarian, vein, whilst the vein of the left side, in each sex, 

 is a tributary of the left renal. The abdominal aorta and its branches are 

 to be dissected, followed by the common iliac vessels. Along the front of 

 the aorta the median lumbar glands should be looked for, and along each 

 common iliac artery the so-called common iliac glands. By drawing aside 

 the right crus of the diaphragm, the receptaculum chyli will be found on the 

 right of the aorta, in front of the first and second lumbar vertebra?, and, on 

 the right of it, the right azygos vein. The ureter is to be dissected as low as 

 the pelvic brim, and the pelvis at its upper end is to be shown. The renal 

 vessels are to be studied, and the kidney is then to be removed. The organ 

 is to be divided into two halves by a vertical incision carried from the outer 

 to the inner border. This will show the fibrous capsule (which should be 

 stripped off), sinus, calices, Malpighian pyramids, and cortex. 



The diaphragm is next to be dissected. Its central tendon, crura, ligamenta 

 arcuata, and openings are to be studied. The iliac fascia is next to be 

 dissected, with its upward prolongation on the psoas magnus, known as the 



Esoas fascia. Its mode of attachment to the vertebral column and pelvic 

 rim are to be noted, and its disposition at the outer border of the psoas magnus 

 above the iliac crest is to be carefully studied. The nerves on the posterior 

 wall are now to be shown. Emerging from beneath the ligamentum arcuatum 

 externum, and passing along the lower border of the twelfth rib, will be found 

 the anterior primary division of the twelfth thoracic nerve (subcostal nerve), 

 and with it the subcostal vessels. The genito-crural nerve pierces the psoas 

 magnus close to its inner border, singly or in two branches, genital and 

 crural, and these are to be followed, the former to the cremasteric muscular 

 covering of the spermatic cord, and the latter to Poupart's ligament, beneath 

 which it escapes on to the front of the thigh, close to the outer side of the 

 external iliac artery. The ilio-hypogastric and inguinal nerves appear at 

 the outer border of the psoas magnus, and cross the quadratus lumborum 

 close together, the inguinal being the lower of the two. The external 

 cutaneous nerve also appears at the outer border of the psoas magnus below 



