THE rii.iM.ii. nit /;.\VAT//.I A,/r \/:/,M /.x 735 



ficially than tlio right in tho lower part of the nock, aud for this reason 

 should !>< more exposed to compression. He thus explains why, iu chronic 

 " muring " tlio alterations observed are nearly always iu the left muscles 

 of tin- larynx. 



The terminal divisions of tho recurronts are distributed to tho po^: 

 and lateral erico-arytenoid, and the arytenoid and thyro-aryteuoid mu^ 

 as well as to the suhglottic mueous membrane. 



In their long course, they emit collateral ramuscules that also ascend, 

 and are distributed to the mucous membrane and muscular layer of tho 

 trachea, as well as to that of tho oesophagus. 



The rt-i" rent aesophugeal ramuscules are all sensitive, and form five 

 groups : the first and second arise, on the left side, close t'> the arch of the 

 aorta, ascend on the sides of the trachea, and pass to the portion of the 

 liagus lying between that canal and tho thoracic section of the longus 

 colli muscle. The third, more considerable, springs from a branch thafc.^ 

 given off at tho brachial trunks; it is markedly recurrent, aud forms on 

 the side of the trachea, with the second, a small plexus, and then lies 

 do^.-ly alongside the oesophagus, which it accompanies for a distance of 

 eight inches from the first rib. The branch constituting the fourth group 

 is the longest of all ; it is detached about two or two and a-half inches in 

 front of the first rib, and after emitting several long trachcal filaments, it 

 ascends on the side of tho trachea close to the border of the oesophagus, 

 where it generally disappears at about six or eight iuchos from the pharynx. 

 The fifth group is composed of a branch detached from the recurrent, about 

 the point where the preceding terminates ; it goes entirely to the origin 

 of the canal. 



TERMINAL BRANCHES OF THE PNEUMOGA8TRIO NEEVES. 



1. BRONCHIAL PLEXUS (Fig. 3G2, 29). The bronchial plexus is formed 

 by several branches from the pneumogastric, on the arrival of that nerve 

 above the roots of the lungs, and which interlace in a network and ramify 

 around the bronchial divisions following these into the texture of the 

 pulmonary organ. It is these branches which give to the mucous membrane 

 its great sensibility, and which provoke those evident contractions of which 

 it is the seat 



2. CEsopHAGEAL BRANCHES (Fig. 362, 30, 31). After emitting tlio 

 minuscules of the bronchial plexus, each pneumogastric is continued along 

 the oesophagus by two branches a superior and inferior making four 

 branches for the two nerves. Tho two superior lie together, and are 

 confounded in a single cord, cither immediately, or after a certain course; 

 the two inferior comport themselves in the same manner with one another ; 

 making a double anastomosis, from which arise the two nerves we are 

 aliout to describe, and which are designated the oesophageal nerves, because 

 of their situation. Tho right nerve forms a largo portion of the superior 

 t-ord ; the left, especially, gives raniuscules to tho inferior. 



Placed 1 t ween tho layers of tho posterior mediastinum, these two 

 nerves follow the oesophagus for a certain distance, one above, tho other 

 talow, giving off some ramuscules to that muscular canal, detaching one or 

 two communicating branches, and traversing tho opening in the right 

 pillar of the diaphragm to penetrate tho abdominal cavity. 



The inferior terminates in tho iMirietes of th stomach, by forming 

 on tho small curvature, to the right of the cardia, a very rich plexus 



