THE SYMPATHETIC NERVES, 



Varieties. The cardiac nerves vary greatly in their disposition, and in many cases it is 

 difficult, if not impossible, to recognize the arrangement which is described as typical. The 

 superior cardiac nerve of the right side, instead of passing to the thorax in the manner stated 

 above, may join the cardiac branch furnished from one of the other cervical ganglia. This 

 nerve is sometimes wanting, especially on the right side ; in such cases it appears to be 



Fig. 232. CONNECTIONS OP THE CERVICAL AND UPPER THORACIC SYMPATHETIC GANGLIA AM> XKRVES 

 ON THE LEFT SIDE. (From Sappey, after Hirschfeld and Leveille.) 



The full description of this figure will be found at p. 263. The following numbers refer to the 

 sympathetic ganglia and nerves, and those immediately connected with them ; 5, pharyngeal plexus ; 

 12, 13, posterior pulmonary plexus ; and to the reader's left, above the pulmonary artery, the superficial 

 cardiac plexus ; 24, superior cervical ganglion of the sympathetic ; 25, middle cervical ganglion ; 

 26, conjoined inferior cervical and first thoracic ganglia ; 27, 28, 29, 30, second, third, fourth, and fifth 

 thoracic ganglia. 



replaced by a larger superior cardiac offset from the vagus or its external laryiigeal branch 

 (M. Alpiger). 



Drobnik describes a special yrctraclieal Iranc7i which is given off from the communication 

 between the superior cardiac nerve and the recurrent laryngeal ; it descends on the trachea, 

 and terminates partly in the pericardium, partly in the anterior pulmonary plexus. 



4. BRANCHES TO BLOOD-VESSELS. The nerves which ramify on the arteries 

 (nn. carotid externi] spring from the front of the ganglion, and twine round 

 the trunk of the external carotid artery (plexus caroticus externus). They are also 

 prolonged on the branches of the artery, forming upon them slender plexuses which 

 are named like the arteries they accompany. From the plexus on the facial artery 



