MR. T. SNOW BECK ON THE NERVES OF THE UTERUS. 
219 
the spinal cord, and gelatinous nervous fibres derived from the ganglia; the size 
of the ganglia being in apparent relation to the quantity of gelatinous fibres required 
for the nerves distributed from these points. The constitution of the nerves which 
come from these ganglia differs according to the size of the ganglia. Those distri- 
buted to the bladder and vagina differ from the nerves sent to the uterus, intestines, 
&c., in containing a much larger amount of tubular nervous fibre*. 
Nerves of the Unimpregnated Uterus . — The nerves which compose the hypogastric 
plexus, on approaching the neck of the uterus, begin to separate, having larger spaces 
between them, and on a level with the os uteri they are joined by the branches 
already described, which accompany the superior heemorrhoidal artery. This expan- 
sion appears to be only the spreading out of the posterior portion of the hypogastric 
and not of the anterior portion ; for the latter, after being joined by the branches 
which accompany the iliac arteries, passes directly onwards by the broad ligament 
and supplies the lower half of the uterus. These nerves, or it may be said these 
continuations from the anterior part of the lateral hypogastric plexus, pass towards 
the uterus, and mixing with the arteries of this part, go on in company with them for 
some part of their course, but as they approach the body of the organ they separate, 
and each pursues a separate distribution. As the nerves approach the uterus they lose 
the plexiform character, and form a number of delicate branches, which pass on 
as distinct fine cords, dividing and subdividing, but not uniting with each other. 
For the supply of the middle part of the uterus a distinct branch comes from the 
inferior aortic plexus, and running down by the side of the pelvis, receives no com- 
munication from the hypogastric, but passes directly to the superior part of the body 
of the uterus. It there divides, supplying the portion between the insertion of the 
Fallopian tubes and the termination of the previous branches. It also sends a branch 
to the ovary. The fundus of the uterus, or the portion above the Fallopian tubes, is 
sometimes supplied by a branch from the nerves furnished to the ovaries, as seen in 
the dissection of the gravid uterus. 
Distinct from these nerves is another set, which comes from the same continua- 
tion of the hypogastric plexus, but assumes a plexiform arrangement round the 
vessels, and has the distinctive character of forming minute ganglia here and there. 
These nerves are so minute, that a special dissection is required to determine their 
ultimate distribution, although their arrangement would lead to the inference that 
* The sole anatomical purpose of the ganglia is apparently to give origin to the gelatinous fibres, to which 
end they are distributed irregularly over the body, in those situations where a supply of the gelatinous fibre is 
required. The true sympathetic system appears to be a system of gelatinous nervous fibres, which are distributed 
everywhere over the body, and which preside over the organic functions. It appears to exist independently of 
the brain or spinal cord, although the tubular fibres which come from the brain and spinal cord are associated 
with the gelatinous fibres in the larger branches of the sympathetic. In the minute branches the gelatinous 
fibres exist, separate and distinct from the tubular, and are distributed to the arteries. They may however 
have other distributions ; but this, together with the ultimate distribution of the tubular fibre, remains for future 
inquiry. — (May 1846.) 
