382 Dr. W. H. Gaskell. Structure, Function, [Feb. 23, 



February 23, 1888. 



Mr. JOHN EVANS, D.C.L., Treasurer and Vice-President, in the 



Chair. 



The Presents received were laid on the table, and thanks ordered for 

 them. 



The following Papers were read : — 



L " On the Relation between the Structure, Function, and 

 Distribution of the Cranial Nerves. Preliminary Commu- 

 nication." By W. H. Gaskell, M.D., F.R.S. Received 

 February 9, 1888. 



In a previous paper* I have pointed out that the structure, distribu- 

 tion, and function of the spinal nerves, as well as the arrangement of 

 their centres of origin in the spinal cord, all lead to the conclusion 

 that these nerves are divisible into two parts; (1) a somatic part, 

 supplying the external surface of the body and the muscles derived 

 from the muscle plates, and (2) a splanchnic part, supplying the 

 internal surfaces and organs and the muscles derived from the lateral 

 plates of mesoblast. 



I also pointed out that the cranial nerves were built up on a similar 

 plan and arose from similar centres of origin to the spinal nerves ; 

 that they too were divisible into somatic and splanchnic groups of the 

 same type as in the spinal nerves. 



In that paper I dealt especially with efferent nerves, and pointed 

 out that the somatic efferent nerves are non-ganglionated. and pass 

 from the nerve cells of the anterior horn direct to the muscles derived 

 from the muscle plates ; on the other hand, the splanchnic efferent 

 nerves are divisible into a ganglionated and a non-ganglionated group, 

 of which the non-ganglionated motor nerves arise from a lateral group 

 of nerve cells forming part of the lateral horn, which are continued 

 cranialwards as the separate nuclei of such nerves as the facial, &c, 

 and pass from the anterior root to the muscles derived from the 

 lateral plates of mesoblast ; while the ganglionated efferent nerves 

 arise either from the cells of Clarke's column or from those of the 

 lateral horn or from both, and pass to the so-called sympathetic 



# f Journ. of Physiol.,' vol. 7, p. 1. 



