SYMPATHETIC GANGLIA 6ll 



Ganglia in the Abdominal and the Pelvic Cavities. The semilunar 

 ganglia on the two sides send off radiating branches to form the solar 

 plexus. They are situated by the side of the cceliac axis and near the 

 suprarenal capsules. These are the largest of the sympathetic ganglia. 

 From these arise plexuses distributed to various parts in the abdomen, as 

 follows : The phrenic plexus follows the phrenic artery and its branches 

 to the diaphragm. The coeliac plexus subdivides into the gastric, hepatic 

 and splenic plexuses, which are distributed to organs as their names 

 indicate. From the solar plexus different plexuses are given off, which 

 pass to the kidneys, the suprarenal capsules, the testes in the male and 

 the ovaries in the female, the intestines (by the superior and inferior 

 mesenteric plexuses), the upper part of the rectum, the abdominal aorta 

 and the vena cava. The filaments follow the distribution of the blood- 

 vessels in the solid viscera. 



The lumbar ganglia, four in number, are situated in the lumbar 

 region, on the bodies of the vertebrae. They are connected with the 

 ganglia above and below and with each other by the sympathetic 

 cord, receiving, like the other ganglia, filaments from the spinal 

 nerves. Their branches of distribution form the aortic lumbar plexus 

 and the hypogastric plexus and follow the course of the blood- 

 vessels. 



The four or five sacral ganglia and the ganglion impar are situated 

 by the inner side of the sacral foramina and in front of the coccyx. 

 These are connected with the ganglia above and with each other and 

 receive filaments from the sacral nerves, there being usually two 

 branches of communication for each ganglion. The filaments of distri- 

 bution go to all the pelvic viscera and bloodvessels. The inferior hypo- 

 gastric, or pelvic plexus is a continuation of the hypogastric plexus 

 above and receives a few filaments from the sacral ganglia. The uterine 

 nerves go to the uterus and the Fallopian tubes. In the substance of 

 the uterus the nerves are connected with small collections of ganglionic 

 cells. The sympathetic filaments are prolonged into the upper and 

 lower extremities, following the course of the bloodvessels and ter- 

 minating in their muscular coat. 



The filaments of the sympathetic, at or near their terminations, are 

 connected with ganglionic cells, not only in the heart and the uterus, but 

 in the bloodvessels, lymphatics, the coccygeal gland, the submucous and 

 the muscular layer of the entire alimentary canal, the salivary glands, 

 pancreas, excretory ducts of the liver and pancreas, the larynx, trachea, 

 pulmonary tissue, bladder, ureters, the entire generative apparatus, 

 suprarenal capsules, thymus, lachrymal canals, ciliary muscle and the 

 iris. In these situations nerve-cells have been demonstrated, and it is 



