THE HYPOGASTRIC PLEXUS. 877 



plexuses. It receives branches from the lesser splanchnic nerves, and, on the left 

 side, a filament from the right pneumogastric. 



The gastric or coronary plexus accompanies the gastric artery along the lesser 

 curvature of the stomach, and joins with branches from the left pneumogastric 

 nerve. It is distributed to the stomach. 



The hepatic plexus, the largest offset from the coeliac plexus, receives filaments 

 from the left pneumogastric and right phrenic nerves. It accompanies the hepatic 

 artery, ramifying in the substance of the liver upon its branches and upon those 

 of the vena portte. 



Branches from this plexus accompany all the divisions of the hepatic arterv. 

 Thus there is a pyloric plexus accompanying the pyloric branch of the hepatic, 

 which joins with the gastric plexus and pneumogastric nerves. There is also a 

 goitre-duodenal plexus, which subdivides into the pancreatico-duodenal plexus, 

 which accompanies the pancreatico-duodenal artery, to supply the pancreas and 

 duodenum, joining with branches from the mesenteric plexus; and a gastro-epi- 

 ploic plexus, which accompanies the right gastro-epiploic artery along the greater 

 curvature of the stomach and anastomoses with branches from the splenic plexus. 

 A - i>}--jru8, which supplies the gall-bladder, also arises from the hepatic plexus 

 near the liver. 



The splenic plexus is formed by branches from the eceliac plexus, the left semi- 

 lunar ganglia, and from the right pneumogastric nerve. It accompanies the 

 splenic artery and its branches to the substance of the spleen, giving off, in its 

 course, filaments to the pancreas (pancreatic jlexitz) and the left gastro-epiploic 

 plexus, which accompanies the gastro-epiplpica sinistra artery along the convex 

 border of the stomach. 



The superior mesenteric plexus is a continuation of the lower part of the great 

 solar plexus, receiving a branch from the junction of the right pneumogastric 

 nerve with the coeliac plexus. It surrounds the superior mesenteric artery, which it 

 accompanies into the mesentery, and divides into a number of secondary plexuses, 

 which are distributed to all the parts supplied by the artery viz. pancreatic branches 

 to the pancreas ; intestinal branches, which supply the whole of the small intestine ; 

 and ileo-colic, right colic, and middle colic branches, which supply the correspond- 

 ing parts of the great intestine. The nerves composing this plexus are white in 

 color and firm in texture, and have numerous ganglia developed upon them near 

 their origin. 



The aortic plexus is formed by branches derived, on each side, from the solar 

 plexus and the semilunar ganglia, receiving filaments from some of the lumbar 

 ganglia. It is situated upon the sides and front of the aorta, between the origins 

 of the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries. From this plexus arise part of 

 the spermatic, the inferior mesenteric, and the hypogastric plexuses ; and it dis- 

 tributes filaments to the inferior vena cava. 



The nesenteric plexu* is derived chiefly from the left side of the aortic 



plexus. It surrounds the inferior mesenteric artery, and divides into a number of 

 secondary plexuses, which are distributed to all the parts supplied by the artery 

 viz. the left colic and sigmoid plexuses, which supply the descending and sigmoid 

 flexure of the colon ; and the superior haemorrhoidal plexus, which supplies the 

 upper part of the rectum and joins in the pelvis with branches from the pelvic 

 plexus. 



The Hypogastric Plexus. 



The Hypogastric Plexus supplies the viscera of the pelvic cavity. It is situated 

 in front of the promontory of the sacrum, between the two common iliac arteries, 

 and is formed by the union of numerous filaments, which descend on each side 

 from the aortic plexus and from the lumbar ganglia. This plexus contains no 

 ganglia, and bifurcates, below, into two lateral portions, which form the pelvic 



