CERVICAL GANGLIA. 437 



situated upon the submaxillary gland, in close relation with the gustatory 

 nerve and near the posterior border of the mylo-hyoideus muscle. 



Its branches of distribution, six or eight in number, divide into many 

 filaments, which supply the substance of the submaxillary gland and 

 Wharton's duct. 



Its branches of communication are, two or three from and to the gusta- 

 tory nerve ; one from the chorda tympani ; and one or two filaments which 

 pass to the facial artery and communicate with the nervi molles from the 

 cervical portion of the sympathetic. 



CAROTID PLEXUS. The ascending branch of the superior cervical gan- 

 glion enters the carotid canal with the internal carotid artery, and divides 

 into two branches, which form several loops of communication with each 

 other around the artery. These branches, together with those derived 

 from the petrosal branch of the Vidian, constitute the carotid plexus. They 

 also form frequently a small gangliform swelling upon the under part of the 

 artery, which is called the carotid ganglion. The latter, however, is not 

 constant. The continuation of the carotid plexus onwards with the artery 

 by the side of the sella turcica, is called the cavernous plexus. 



The carotid plexus is the centre of communication between all the cra- 

 nial ganglia ; and being derived from the superior cervical ganglion, be- 

 tween the cranial ganglia arid those of the trunk, it also communicates 

 with the greater part of the cerebral nerves, and distributes filaments with 

 each of the branches of the internal carotid, w r hich accompany those 

 branches in all their ramifications. 



Thus, the Ganglion of Ribes is formed by the union of the filaments 

 which accompany the anterior cerebral arteries, and which meet on the 

 anterior communicating artery. The ciliary ganglion communicates with 

 the plexus by means of the long branch which is sent back to join it in 

 the cavernous sinus. The spheno-palatine, and with it the naso-palatine 

 ganglion, joins the plexus by means of the carotid branch of the Vidian. 

 The submaxillary ganglion is brought into connexion with it by means of 

 the otic ganglion, and the otic ganglion by means of the tympanic nerve 

 and the Vidian. 



It communicates with the third nerve in the cavernous sinus, and through 

 the ciliary ganglion ; frequently with the fourth in the formation of the 

 nerve of the tentorium ; with the Casserian ganglion ; with the ophthalmic 

 division of the fifth in the cavernous sinus, and by means of the ciliary 

 ganglion ; with the superior maxillary, through the spheno-palatine gan- 

 glion ; and with the inferior maxillary, through the otic ganglion. It sends 

 two branches directly to the sixth nerve, which unite* with it as it crosses 

 the cavernous sinus ; it communicates with the facial and auditory nerves, 

 through the medium of the petrosal branch of the Vidian ; and with the 

 glosso-pharyngeal by means of two filaments to the tympanic nerve. 



CERVICAL GANGLIA. 



The Superior cervical ganglion is long and fusiform, of a greyish colour, 

 smooth, and of considerable thickness, extending from within an inch of 



* Panizza, in his "Experimental Researches on the Nerves," denies this communica- 

 tion, and states very vaguely that " they are merely lost and entwined around it"--. 

 Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal. January 1830 



37* 



