514 SYSTEM OF THE GREAT SYMPATHETIC. 



CHAPTER VII. 







SYSTEM OF THE GREAT SYMPATHETIC. 



THE sympathetic system consists of a double chain of nervous 

 ganglia, running from the anterior to the posterior extremity of the 

 body, along the front and sides of the spinal column, and connected 

 with each other by slender longitudinal filaments. Each ganglion 

 is reinforced by a motor and sensitive filament derived from the 

 cerebro- spinal system, and thus the organs under its influence are 

 brought indirectly into communication with external objects and 

 phenomena. The nerves of the great sympathetic are distributed 

 to organs over which the consciousness and the will have no imme- 

 diate control, as the intestine, kidneys, heart, liver, &c. 



The first sympathetic ganglion in the head is the ophthalmic gan- 

 glion. This ganglion is situated within the orbit of the eye, on the 

 outer aspect of the optic nerve. It communicates by slender fila- 

 ments with the carotid plexus, which forms the continuation of the 

 sympathetic system from below ; and receives a motor root from 

 the oculo-motorius nerve, and a sensitive root from the ophthalmic 

 branch of the fifth pair. Its filaments of distribution, known as the 

 " ciliary nerves," pass forward upon the eyeball, pierce the sclerotic, 

 and finally terminate in the iris. 



The next division of the great sympathetic in the head is the 

 spheno -palatine ganglion, situated in the spheno-maxillary fossa. It 

 communicates, like the preceding, with the carotid plexus, and 

 receives a motor root from the facial nerve, and a sensitive root 

 from the superior maxillary branch of the fifth pair. Its filaments 

 are distributed to the levator palati and azygos uvulas muscles, and 

 to the mucous membrane about the posterior nares. 



The third sympathetic ganglion in the head is the submaxillary, 

 situated upon the submaxillary gland. It communicates with the 

 superior cervical ganglion of the sympathetic by filaments which 

 accompany the facial and external carotid arteries. It derives its 

 sensitive filaments from the lingual branch of the fifth pair, and its 



