808 THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 



From the epigastric or solar plexus are derived the following : 



Phrenic or Diaphragmatic plexus. ( Gastric plexus. 



Suprarenal plexus. Coeliac plexus < Splenic plexus. 



Renal plexus. ( Hepatic plexus. 



Spermatic plexus. Superior mesenteric plexus. 



Aortic plexus. 



The phrenic plexus accompanies the phrenic artery to the Diaphragm, which 

 it supplies, some filaments passing to the suprarenal capsule. It arises from the 

 upper part of the semilunar ganglion, and is larger on the right than on the left 

 side. It receives one or two branches from the phrenic nerve. In connection 

 with this plexus, on the right side, at its point of junction with the phrenic nerve, 

 is a small ganglion (ganglion diaphragmaticum). This ganglion is placed on the 

 under surface of the Diaphragm, near the suprarenal capsule. Its branches are 

 distributed to the inferior vena cava, suprarenal capsule, and hepatic plexus. 

 There is no ganglion on the left side. 



The suprarenal plexus is formed by branches from the solar plexus, from the 

 semilunar ganglion, and from the phrenic and great splanchnic nerves, a ganglion 

 being formed at the point of junction of the latter nerve. It supplies the supra- 

 renal capsule. The branches of this plexus are remarkable for their large size in 

 comparison with the size of the organ they supply. 



The renal plexus is formed by filaments from the solar plexus, the outer part 

 of the semilunar ganglion, and the aortic plexus. It is also joined by filaments 

 from the lesser and smallest splanchnic nerves. The nerves from these sources, 

 fifteen or twenty in number, have numerous ganglia developed upon them. They 

 accompany the branches of the renal artery into the kidney, some filaments on 

 the right side being distributed to the inferior vena cava, and others to the sper- 

 matic plexus on both sides. 



The spermatic plexus is derived from the renal plexus, receiving branches from 

 the aortic plexus. It accompanies the spermatic vessels to the testes. 



In the female the ovarian plexus is distributed to the ovaries and fundus of the 

 uterus. 



The coeliac plexus, of large size, is a direct continuation from the solar plexus : 

 it surrounds the coeliac axis and subdivides into the gastric, hepatic, and splenic 

 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 oifset 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 portae. 



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

 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 

 g astro-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 cystic plexus, which supplies the gall-bladder, also arises from the hepatic plexus 

 near the liver. 



The splenic plexus is formed by branches from the coeliac 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 plexus) and the left gastro-epiploic 



