220 
MR. T. SNOW BECK ON THE NERVES OF THE UTERUS. 
they were especially destined for the vessels. Before the nerves were cleared from 
their neurilema, I frequently met with what appeared to be nervous branches dis- 
tributed to the arteries, but in every instance I have been able, by the aid of 
the microscope, satisfactorily to ascertain that these were minute vessels passing 
from the artery to the nerve to ramify in its neurilema, and not branches of the 
nerve going to the artery. This was proved by their elasticity, by the absence of 
transverse striae, and by the mode of distribution ; for they ended abruptly at the 
artery by a single large termination, whilst they divided and branched to the nerve. 
It was proved, moreover, by their presenting when divided the opening of a distinct 
yet small tube, from which air escaped when blown into the artery. I have been un- 
successful in tracing large branches of nerve to the ureter, though I have carefully 
examined many which in the first instance appeared to be nerves ; but all of which 
proved to be small vessels or rounded cords of fibrous tissue, with the exception of 
one small filament, which came from the anterior margin of the hypogastric plexus 
after its junction with the branches which accompany the internal iliac artery, and 
passing upwards to the ureter, divided and apparently supplied it. From the delicacy 
of this filament and its position in the dissection it was impossible to preserve it. 
The Fallopian tube is supplied by a branch which passes off from the anterior 
border of the hypogastric plexus a little above the level of the os uteri, and, entering 
the broad ligament, receives two branches from the nerves which accompany the 
internal iliac artery, and branches from the nerves between the bladder and uterus. 
It then passes up to supply the Fallopian tube. The branches derived from the 
nerves between the bladder and uterus were accidentally divided in an early part of 
the dissection, hence I am unable to speak decidedly from what source they came. 
That they were branches of augmentation and not of division, is shown by the trunk 
of the nerve being enlarged after each junction. 
The Vessels of the Uterus . — When the vessels of the uterus are divided transversely, 
they present a wavy outline at the inner border of the section, and when opened lon- 
gitudinally, the inner surface presents a number of folds, resembling the rugae of the 
internal surface of the stomach or bladder when contracted. From these appear- 
ances, in which the internal and middle coats of the artery are involved, I am inclined 
to think that the vessels do not diminish in size after parturition, but are only con- 
tracted in their cavity, ready to be again stretched out upon a larger quantity of blood 
being sent to the organ. This point however remains for further examination, as also 
the change which occurs during the first pregnancy, in which we would, a priori, sup- 
pose that the vessels do increase in size. 
The Nerves of the Gravid Uterus . — After the description of the nerves of the un- 
impregnated uterus, it is only necessary to mention that the nerves of the gravid 
uterus follow the same course and distribution in all material respects. They how- 
ever differ in two slight points. 1st. In consequence of the increased size of the 
parts, the pelvic plexus and the inferior part of the hypogastric plexus are extended 
