178 MAMMALIA. 



The aortic plexus varies with the capacity and extent of the large intestines, at a 

 greater or less distance below the coecum, and receives proportionate branches from the 

 lumbar ganglia ; after giving off the spermatic plexus, it generally divides into the 

 hypogastric plexuses, which become combined with branches of sacral nerves, nearly as 

 in man, for supplying the bladder and rectum, and in the female the vagina likewise. 



In simiae, the aortic plexus is nearly the same as in man, and forms a large 

 membranous plexus, and appears most extraordinary when compared with that of 

 animals generally ; the termination giving off the hypogastric plexuses is a broad 

 portion of the same. In a female jaguar, the aortic plexus gives off the spermatic 

 plexus for the ovary and uterus ; at its inferior part it forms a considerable ganglionic 

 enlargement, which gives off branches to form the inferior mesenteric plexus, and then 

 sends off the hypogastric of each side to join branches of the first and second sacral 

 nerves for supplying the bladder, vagina, and rectum, branches extending near to the 

 orifice of the urethra and vagina, whilst the sphincter of these canals is furnished by 

 branches of the internal pudendal nerve. The aortic plexus in the male dog and fox 

 is very similar to that in the female jaguar, and forms at its inferior part a similar 

 ganglion for giving off the inferior mesenteric and hypogastric plexuses. In a female 

 ass, the aortic plexus is broad, and has a particular membranous appearance : the 

 external spermatic nerve supplies the mamma, it arises from the third lumbar nerve, 

 and communicates with the third lumbar ganglion of the sympathetic, from which a 

 large branch is sent to the aortic plexus, and at this point of union the internal 

 spermatic nerve is given off to the ovary, the Fallopian tubes, the round ligament and 

 uterus ; the lower part of the aortic plexus, before its giving off the hypogastric, 

 appears to be of a structure between the thick membrane of that in the baboon and 

 the ganglion in the sow. In the sow, the aortic plexus is rather membranous and 

 delicate ; it gives off the internal and superior spermatic nerves, which pass on the 

 broad ligament principally to the ovary and Fallopian tube ; it then, on each side, 

 forms a large ganglion, joined to its fellow by a bridge ; from each ganglion branches 

 are sent with the inferior mesenteric artery to the lower portion of the colon ; it then 

 gives off an inferior spermatic plexus to accompany the large uterine artery, and 



