592 Boyal Society : — Dr. Robert Lee on the 



us, about two inches below the aortic plexus, sends off a large 

 branch, which passes on the inside of the ureter to the superior 

 uterine vein, where it is about to terminate in the hypogastric vein. 

 Here the nerve suddenly expands, becomes broad and thin, and 

 passes into a great plexus of nerves, which completely encircles the 

 vein. This plexus, surrounding the uterine vein, is joined below by 

 two large branches, which proceed from the hypogastric plexus 

 nearer the vagina, and loM'er down, and from which branches pass 

 on the outside of the ureter. From the upper part of this plexus, 

 surrounding the uterine vein near its termination, three large trunks 

 of nerves proceed upwards with the vein to the superior part of the 

 uterus, and enlarge as they ascend. The posterior branch of these 

 hypogastric nerves sends oif in its course smaller branches, which 

 accompany the ramifications of the uterine vein on the posterior 

 surface of the uterus. Passing upwards beyond the junction of the 

 spermatic with the uterine vein, and running between the peritoneum 

 and the left posterior fasciculated band, it spreads out into a web of 

 thin broad branches and slender nervous filaments, some of which 

 are inserted into the peritoneum, and others follow the vein to the 

 fundus uteri, which they completely surround as the vein passes 

 down into the muscular coat of the uterus. 



Some of the branches of this nerve, near the fundus uteri, are 

 distributed to the muscular coat, but these are small and few in 

 number. 



The middle and anterior branches of the hypogastric nerves ad- 

 here closely to the uterine vein as they ascend, and form around it 

 several plexuses, Avhich completely invest the vessel. From these 

 plexuses branches are sent off to the anterior surface of the uterus, 

 some of which, in an arborescent form, follow the trunk and 

 branches of the uterine artery. These two hypogastric nerves 

 ascend, and closely unite "with the left posterior fasciculated band. 



On the left side of the uterus this band arises near the mesial line, 

 on the back of the uterus, midway between the fundus and cervix, 

 from a mass of fibres, which adhere so firmly both to the peritoneum 

 and muscular coat that it is difficult precisely to determine their ar- 

 rangement. From these fibres the band proceeds across the uterus, 

 in the form of a thin web, to the point where the spermatic vein is 

 leaving the uterus. After closely uniting with the hypogastric 

 nerves, this band proceeds outwards to the round ligament, becoming 

 less firmly adherent to the peritoneum, where it unites with the leit 

 anterior band, and spreads out into a great web, under the perito- 

 neum. The left posterior band is loosely attached, through its Avhole 

 course, to the subjacent muscular coat by soft cellular membrane. 



The spermatic nerves on the left side pass down to the ovarium 

 with the spermatic artery, and first give off several branches to the 

 corpus fimbriatum. A few small branches are then sent into the 

 outer end of the ovary. The spermatic nerves afterwards leave the 

 artery, and proceed with the veins to the uterus, where they firmly 

 unite to the outer extremity of the left posterior band ; and after 

 the junction of this band with the prolongations of the anterior 



