THE SYMPATHETIC NERVE. 477 



of the cardia, is resolved into several radiating filaments or 

 fasciculi, some of which supply the anterior face of the sto- 

 mach, others go along its lesser curvature to the pylorus, to 

 anastomose with the right nerve and the gastric branches of 

 the sympathetic, and are finally blended, after the same maiiner 

 as the preceding, with the solar plexus. 



CHAPTER II. 



OF THE SYMPATHETIC NERVE,* 



THE Sympathetic Nerve (Nervus Sympatheticus Magnus, In- 

 tercostalis Maximus, Gangliosus,) differs, in a great number of 

 respects, from every other nerve of the body; and if we were 

 actuated only by its peculiarities, with Bichat, Meckel, and 

 others, we might, with great propriety, set it apart as some- 

 thing having a claim to an insulated description and location. 

 The dissection of it, however, is so much blended with that 

 of the par vagum, that the descriptions of the two go best 

 hand in hand, and are, therefore, most conveniently studied to- 

 gether. 



This nerve consists in a series or chain of ganglions, extend- 

 ing from the base of the cranium to the lower end of the sa- 

 crum. They are placed on the lateral part of the bodies of the 

 vertebrae, are united to each other by intermediate nervous 

 cords, and send off continually filaments to the adjacent or- 

 gans. With the exception of the neck, there is a ganglion for 

 each intervertebral space, both of the true vertebrae and sa- 

 crum. Besides these ganglions, there are others whick are si- 

 tuated around the trunks of some of the large vessels of the ab- 

 domen. 



The superior extremity of the sympathetic nerve, opposite to 

 the transverse process of the second cervical vertebra, and be- 



* ^pton. Sparpa. Tabul. Neurolog. 



