688 THE SYMPATHETIC NERVES. 



named respectively the cardiac, the solar, and the hypogastric plexus. 

 These plexuses receive branches from both the gangliated cords above 

 noticed, and they constitute centres from which the viscera are supplied 

 with nerves. 



The cranial ganglia of the sympathetic are the ophthalmic, spheno-pala- 

 tine, subrn axillary, and otic, which, being intimately united with the fifth 

 cranial nerve, have already been described along with that nerve. They 

 nre also more or less directly connected with the upper end of the sympa- 

 thetic gangliated cords ; but it will be unnecessary to give any special 

 description of them in this place. 



A. THE GANGLIATED COEDS. 

 THE CERVICAL PART. 



In the neck, each gangliated cord is deeply placed behind the sheath of 

 the great cervical blood-vessels, and in contact with the muscles which 

 immediately cover the fore part of the vertebral column. It comprises 

 three ganglia, the first of which is placed near the base of the skull, the 

 second in the lower part of the neck, and the third immediately above the 

 head of the first rib. 



THE UPPER CERVICAL GANGLION. 



This is the largest ganglion of the great sympathetic cord. It is continued 

 p.uperiorly into an ascending branch, and tapers below into the connecting 

 cord, so as to present usually a fusiform shape ; but there is considerable 

 variety in this respect in different cases, the ganglion being occasionally 

 broader than usual, and sometimes constricted at intervals. It has the 

 reddish-grey colour characteristic of the ganglia of the sympathetic system. 

 It is placed on the larger rectus muscle, opposite the second and third 

 cervical vertebrae, and behind the internal carotid artery. 



Connection with spinal nerves. At its outer side the superior cervical 

 ganglion is connected with the first four spinal nerves, by means of slender 

 cords, which have the structure pointed out in the general description as 

 being common to the series. 



The circumstance of this ganglion being connected with so many as four spinal 

 nerves, together with its occasionally constricted appearance, is favourable to the 

 view that it may be regarded as consisting of several ganglia which have coalesced. 



Connection irith cranial nerves. Small twigs connect the ganglion or 

 its cranial cord with the second ganglion of the pneumo-gastric, and with 

 the ninth cranial nerve, near the base of the skull ; and another branch, 

 which is directed upwards from the ganglion, divides at the base of the 

 skull into two filaments, one of which ends in the second (petrosal) ganglion 

 of the glosso-pharyngeal nerve ; while the other, entering the jugular 

 foramen, joins the ganglion of the root of the pneumo-gastric. 



Besides the branches connecting it with cranial and spinal nerves, the 

 first cervical ganglion gives off also the ascending branch, the upper cardiac 

 nerve, pharyngeal nerves, and branches to blood-vessels. 



1. ASCENDING BRANCH AND CRANIAL PLEXUSES. 



The ascending branch of the first cervical ganglion is soft in texture and of 



