476 NERVOUS SYSTEM. 







other; some of them pass inwards, to be distributed on the 

 bronchus, trachea, and oesophagus. Others, which are given 

 off as the nerve lies upon the posterior face of the root of the 

 lung, amounting to six or seven in number, but being of various 

 sizes, run transversely outwards, and form an intertexture with 

 one another. The latter are joined by filaments from the infe- 

 rior cervical and the first dorsal ganglion of the sympathetic, 

 and thus constitute the posterior pulmonary plexus. The fila- 

 ments from this plexus follow the distribution of the bronchus, 

 and, according to Bichat, are all destined to the mucous mem- 

 brane and the mucous glands of the lung; as they may be traced 

 piercing successively the ramifications of the bronchus, in order 

 to reach its lining membrane. 



On the right side, the par vagum, while furnishing the pul- 

 monary plexus, and for some distance lower down, is divided 

 into from four to six considerable fasciculi, which form with 

 each other a plexus or series of anastomoses, having very large 

 meshes, and from which proceed many filaments to the oeso- 

 phagus. Afterwards these fasciculi are assembled into a sin- 

 gle cord, which proceeds on the posterior face of the oesopha- 

 gus, along with it into the abdomen. 



On the left side, the par vagum, after forming the posterior 

 pulmonary plexus, is split into two or three fasciculi; which 

 likewise furnish branches to the oesophagus, and unite to form 

 a single cord, which proceeds on the front surface of the oeso- 

 phagus, along with it into the abdomen. 



The two nerves, while descending in this way, send frequent 

 anastomotic filaments to each other, and to the oesophagus. 



C. In the Abdomen the par vagum is distributed as follows: 

 Filaments are sent from each nerve, which form a plexus 

 around the cardiac orifice of the stomach. The right nerve 

 is then divided into many branches; some are distributed on 

 the posterior face of the stomach, others go along the lesser 

 curvature of this viscus, and reach thereby the pylorus, where 

 they anastomose with filaments from the left nerve, and from 

 the gastric plexus of the sympathetic; others go behind the 

 stomach to join the solar plexus, and are blended with the 

 latter in its distribution to the liver, vena portarum, duode- 

 num, and pancreas. The left par vagum, being placed in front 



