CARDIAC NERVES. 



439 



Fig. 197.f 



one which accompanies the verte- 

 bral artery along the vertebral ca- 

 nal, forming the vertebral plexus. 

 This plexus sends filaments to all 

 the branches given off by the ar- 

 tery, and communicates in the 

 cranium with the filaments of the 

 carotid plexus accompanying the 

 branches of the internal carotid 

 artery. 



The internal branch is the infe- 

 rior cardiac nerve, nervus cardiacus 

 minor. 



CARDIAC NERVES.* The supe- 

 rior cardiac nerve (nervus superfi- 

 dalis cordis) arises from the lower 

 part of the superior cervical gan- 

 glion ; it then descends the neck 

 behind the common carotid artery 

 and parallel with the trachea, 

 crosses the inferior thyroid artery, 

 and running by the side of the re- 

 current laryngeal nerve for a short 

 distance, passes behind the arteria 

 innominata to the concavity of the 

 arch of the aorta, where it joins the 

 cardiac ganglion. 



In its course it receives branches 

 from the pneumogastric nerve, and 

 sends filaments to the thyroid 

 gland and trachea. 



The Middle cardiac nerve (ner- 

 vus cardiacus magnus) proceeds 

 from the middle cardiac ganglion, 

 or, in its absence, from the cord 

 of communication between the 

 superior and inferior. It is the 

 largest of the three nerves, and lies 

 nearly parallel with the recurrent 



* There is no constancy with regard to the origin and course of these nerves; theie- 

 fore the student must not be disappointed in finding the description in discord with nis 

 dissection. 



f A view of the great sympathetic nerve. 36. The cavity of the cranium. 34. The 

 globe of the eye. 33. The septum of the nose. 32. The incisor teeth. 31. The sub 

 maxillary gland. 30. The larynx. 29. The heart. 28. The left lung. * The cceliac 

 axis. 27. The ascending vena cava. 26. The kidney. 25. The crista of the ilium, 

 23. The bladder. 22. The rectum. 24. The pubes. 1. Plexus on the carotid artery in 

 the carotid foramen. 2. Sixth nerve, (motor externus.) 3. 1st of the fifth or ophthal 

 mic nerve. 4. Branch on the septum narium, connecting Meckel's ganglion with Clo 

 quet's in the incisive foramen. 5. Immediately above the figure is the recurrent branch 

 or Vidian nerve, dividing into the carotid and petrosal branches. 6. Posterior pa!atin 

 branches. 7. Lingual nerve joined by the chorda tympani. 8. The portio dura of th* 

 seventh pair or facial nerve. 9. The superior cervical ganglion. 10. The middle cejt 



