THE SYMPATHETIC SYSTEM OF NERVES. 



1369 



axis by means of the rami communicantes of the lower thoracic and upper lumbar 

 nerves and the visceral branches of the pudendal plexus. 



The solar or epigastric plexus (Fig. 1136), the largest of the series, is situated 

 in the upper abdominal region, posterior to the stomach, anterior to the aorta and 

 the crura of the diaphragm, superior to the pancreas, between the suprarenal bodies 

 and around the origins of the cceliac axis and the superior mesenteric artery. It is 

 continuous above with the diaphragmatic plexus, laterally with the suprarenal and 



FIG. 1136. 



Left vagus nerve 

 CEsophagus 



Phrenic nerve 



Diaphragmatic ganglion 



Great splanchnic nerve 



Right semilunar ganglion 



Small splanchnic nerve 



Spermatic artery 



III. lumbar ganglion 



Aortic plexus 



IV. lumbar ganglion 



Ureter 



Hypogastric plexus 



Disc between V. lumbar 

 vertebra and sacrum 



1. sacral ganglion 



Phrenic nerve 



Diaphragm 



Right vagus nerve 

 Aorta 



Coelic axis 



f Left semilunar ganglion 



of solar plexus 

 Superior mesenteric 



ganglion 

 .Renal ganglion 



II. lumbar ganglion 

 Spermatic ganglion 



III. lumbar ganglion 



IV. lumbar ganglion 



Spermatic artery 

 and plexus 



Left common iliac vein 



Left pelvic plexus 



Dissection of abdominal sympathetic nerves, showing solar, hypogastric and secondary plexuses. 



renal plexuses, below with the superior mesenteric and aortic plexuses and, by 

 means of the aortic and hypogastric plexuses, with the two pelvic plexuses. Con- 

 tributory to it are the right vagus and the great and small splanchnic nerves. The 

 fully formed plexus consists of two portions: (i) the semilunar ganglia and (2) 

 the coeliac plexu s. 



i. The semilunar ganglia (gg. coeliaca) (Fig. 1136), the largest of the 

 ganglionic elements in the solar plexus, are situated upon the crura of the diaphragm 

 at the superior and lateral portions of the plexus, partly overlapped by the suprarenal 

 bodies and separated from each other by the cceliac axis and the superior mesenteric 

 artery ; the right one is partially covered by the superior vena cava and the two are 



