SYMPATHETIC PLEXUSES. 337 



plexus is connected on each side with the large and small splanchnic 

 nerves ; and it is joined also by a great part of the right pneumo- 

 gastric nerve. Large branches are furnished to the different viscera gives offsets 



j , , , on blood- 



along the vessels. vessels. 



The semilunar ganglia, one in each half of the plexus, are the Semilunar 

 largest in the body, and are placed close to the suprarenal capsules, 

 resting on the diaphragm, the ganglion of the right side being beneath 

 the vena cava. At the upper end each is joined by the great 

 splanchnic nerve. Each ganglion is irregular in shape, and is often 

 divided into smaller ganglia ; from its outer side nerves are directed form, 

 to the kidney and the suprarenal capsule. 



Offsets of the plexus. The nerves supplied to the viscera form Several 

 plexuses round the vessels ; thus, there are coeliac, mesenteric, renal, the plexus, 

 spermatic, diaphragmatic plexuses, &c. 



The diaphragmatic or phrenic plexus comes from the upper end of Plexus to 

 the semilunar ganglion, but it soon leaves the phrenic artery to enter 

 the substance of the diaphragm : a communication takes place 

 between the phrenic nerve from the cervical plexus and these 

 branches of the sympathetic. On the right side is a small ganglion has a 

 where the plexus is joined by the spinal nerve ; and from it filaments 

 are supplied to the vena cava and the suprarenal body : this ganglion 

 is absent on the left side (Swan). 



The suprarenal nerves are very large and numerous, in comparison Suprarenal 

 with the size of the viscus supplied, and are directed outwards to the 

 suprarenal body. The lesser splanchnic nerve directly communicates 

 with this plexus. 



The renal plexus is derived from the semilunar ganglion and outer Renal 

 side of the solar plexus, and is joined by the smallest splanchnic p exus ' 

 nerve. The nerves surround the renal artery, having small ganglia 

 on them, and enter the kidney with the vessels. An offset is given 

 from the renal to the spermatic plexus (p. 319). 



The c&liac plexus is a direct continuation of the plexus around its Coeliac 

 artery : it is joined by the small splanchnic nerve on each side, and p e3 

 by a branch from the right pneumo-gastric nerve. The plexus 



divides like the arterv into three offsets coronarv, splenic, and divides like 



the artery, 

 hepatic. 



a. The coronary plexus accompanies the vessel of the same name into coro- 

 to the stomach : it communicates with the left vagus nerve. Qary ' 



6. The splenic plexus furnishes nerves to the pancreas, and to the splenic, 

 stomach along the left gastro-epiploi'c artery ; and it is joined by an 

 offset from the right pneumo-gastric nerve. 



c. The hepatic plexus is continued on the vena portae, the hepatic and hepatic; 

 artery, and the bile-duct into the liver, and ramifies on those vessels : 

 in the small omentum the plexus is joined by offsets from the left 

 vagus. The following secondary plexuses are furnished around the the last has 

 branches of the hepatic artery, and have the same name and distribu- ^exusesf 

 tion as the vessels : ^"i 2 -. 



A pyloric plexus courses along the small curvature of the pyloric, 

 stomach. 



D.A. Z 



