THE NERVES. 425 



b. Ramu descendens is the connecting cord of the n. sympathi- 

 cus itself (see above). From it connecting filaments pass off to n. 

 cardiacus and laryngeus superior. 



c. Anterior branches of ganglion cervicale I. 



1. Nervi moUes (s. carotidis externce), arise singly or with a 

 common trunk (truncus n. mollium) from the anterior surface 

 of the ganglion, are soft, thin, and reddish, descend forwards, 

 entwine round both carotids, and form plexuses round all the 

 rami of carotis externa. 



Plexus nervorum mollium are as numerous as the branches 

 passing off from the carotis extern. ; also, pi. thyreoideus, 

 lingualis, &c. Above the point of division of the large 

 arteries they commonly form ganglia ; thus ganglion in- 

 tercaroticum in the angle between carotis interna and ex- 

 terna. The following nerves have a distinct share in these 

 plexuses ; n. hypoglossus, vagus, glosso-pharyngeus,faci~ 

 alis, and trigeminus. From the plexus facialis a filament 

 passes, as a soft root, to the gang. maxiUare ; from pi. 

 maxillar. internus, with art. meningea media to ganglion 

 oticum. 



2. N. cardiacus superior s. longus, arises from the inferior ex- 

 tremity of the ganglion, or below this even from the trunk, 

 enlarged by the laryngeal branch of the vagus ; passes on 

 the inner side of n. sympathicus before m. longus colli, 

 behind carotis communis, in front, over art. thyreoidea (on 

 the right side close to trachea, on the left before cesophagus), 

 enters the . chest behind art. subclavia, and passes with the 

 carotis, (on the left) and truncus anonymus (on the right side) 

 to the aorta, in the coats of which it is, partly, lost, sending 

 filaments on to the posterior cardiac and pulmonary plexus. 

 It unites with : nn. molles, vagus, and its recurrent branch, 

 and gives filaments to the thyroid gland, m. sterno-, 

 hyo-thyreoid, constrictor pharyng. inferior. It sometimes 

 forms two ganglia. 



a. Gangl. cardiacum superius, small, close under art. thyreoid. 

 inferior. 



b. Gangl. cardiacum inferius, s. Wrisbergi, larger, in the tho- 

 rax (upon the right side, where the nerve is generally stronger). 



6T73. 2. Ganglion cervicale medium, roundish, elliptical, smaller 

 than the superior cervical ganglion, is larger in one instance than 

 in another, but almost always present; it is placed on the trunk of 

 n. sympathicus, between the superior and inferior cervical gan- 



