178 
DR. LEE’S FURTHER ACCOUNT OF 
the muscular coat, and uniting with all the ganglionic plexuses on the posterior sur- 
face. The appearances presented by the anterior subperitoneal ganglia and plexuses 
in the fourth month of pregnancy, have been displayed in the second engraving which 
illustrated the paper on the nervous ganglia of the uterus. At that period the gan- 
glion seemed nothing but a thin nervous and vascular membrane, imbedded in soft 
cellular substance, through which the delicate nervous filaments accompanied with 
arteries proceeded to the superior angles of the uterus. On comparing this dissec- 
tion with that now described, it is impossible to avoid being struck with the enor- 
mous development of these nervous structures during the four latter months of preg- 
nancy, or to resist the conclusion that these are formed for the purpose of supplying 
the uterus with that nervous power which it requires during labour. 
These dissections prove that the human uterus possesses a great system of nerves, 
which enlarges with the coats, blood-vessels and absorbents during pregnancy, and 
which returns after parturition to its original condition before conception takes place. 
It is chiefly by the influence of these nerves, that the uterus performs the varied 
functions of menstruation, conception, and parturition, and it is solely by their means, 
that the whole fabric of the nervous system sympathises with the different morbid 
affections of the uterus. If these nerves of the uterus could not be demonstrated, its 
physiology and pathology would be completely inexplicable. 
Explanation of the Plate. 
PLATE XIV. 
Exhibits the ganglia and nerves on the posterior and left side of the gravid uterus 
at the end of the ninth month of pregnancy. 
A. The fundus and body of the uterus, having the peritoneum dissected off from the 
left side. 
B. The vagina covered with nerves proceeding from the inferior border of the left 
hypogastric ganglion. 
C. The rectum. 
D. The left ovarium and Fallopian tube. 
E. The trunk of the left spermatic vein and artery surrounded by the left spermatic 
ganglion. 
F. The aorta divided a little above the origin of the right spermatic artery, and about 
three inches above its division into the two common iliac arteries. 
G. The vena cava. 
H. Trunk of the right spermatic vein entering the vena cava. 
I. Right ureter. 
K. The two cords of the great sympathetic nerve passing down along the front of the 
aorta. 
