ENDOCRINE GLANDS 



from the oesophagus to the beginning of the large intes- 

 tines. 2. All the vegetative fibres of the respiratory 

 system. 3. The excitory secretory stimulation of the 

 glands annexed to the gastro intestinal tract. 4. That of 

 the glands annexed to the digestive tube. 5. That 

 of the glands of the respiratory tract. 6. Inhibits the 

 cardiac contractions. 



The importance of the vagus in the vegetative life is, 

 therefore, considerable. The vegetative fibres of this 

 nerve come: 



1. From the dorsal nucleus of the vagus; 



2. From the bulbar and medullary nuclei of the IXth. 

 These fibres constitute the greater part of the vegetative 

 fibres. We must add, however, that certain fibres, 

 belonging really to the thoracic-lumbar portion of the 

 vegetative system, join the vagus by means of the anas- 

 tomosis of this nerve with the ganglia of the true sympa- 

 thetic system. 



From the central vegetative nuclei arise particularly 

 long central ganglionic fibres, which reach the ganglia in 

 the neighborhood of the organs, for instance, the gang- 

 lionic plexus of Wrisberg or numerous parenchymatous 

 ganglia of the gastro intestinal tract. There these fibres 

 end and communicate with the ganglionic cells from which 

 the ganglion-splanchnic fibres arise, which reach the 

 vegetative tissues. These fibres are short. 



The motor arc is, therefore, as follows: Long central 

 ganglionic fibres, short ganglion organic fibres. The 

 sensory arc consists of the sensory fibers of the vagus. 



F. PHYSIOLOGY OF THE VEGETATIVE SYSTEM ANNEXED 

 TO THE XII CRANIAL. 



This is made up of vaso-motor fibres which are distrib- 

 uted to the blood vessels of the tongue and really belong 



