591 
Nerves of the Gravid Uterus, 
the right uterine vein, and sending off branches to the posterior sur- 
face of the uterus ; some of which accompanied the vein, and others 
appeared to be inserted into the peritoneum. A broad band, re- 
sembling a plexus of nerves, was seen extending across the posterior 
surface of the uterus, and covering the nerve about midway from 
the fundus to the cervix. On the left side, a large plexus of nerves 
was seen, surrounding the uterine veins at the place where they were 
about to enter the hypogastric vein. From this plexus three large 
trunks of nerves were seen accompanying the uterine vein, which 
increased in size as they ascended to the fundus uteri. From the 
nerve situated on the posterior surface of the vein, numerous fila- 
ments passed off towards the mesial line, as on the right side ; some 
following the smaller veins on the posterior surface of the uterus, 
and others becoming intimately adherent to the peritoneum. The 
largest of the nerves which accompanied the uterine vein was traced 
as high as the part where the Fallopian tube enters the uterus ; and 
there it divided into numerous filaments, which plunged deep into 
the muscular coat of the uterus along with the vein. A large fasci- 
culated band, like a plexus of nerves, was also seen on the left side 
under the peritoneum, crossing the body of the uterus ; and several 
branches, apparently nervous, proceeding from this band, were 
distinctly continuous with some of the smaller branches of nerves 
accompanying the uterine veins. The preparation of the parts was 
placed in the Museum of St. George’s Hospital, on the 1st of Octo- 
ber, 1838 ; and several anatomists who examined it were of opinion 
that they were absorbents accompanying the uterine veins, and ten- 
dinous fibres spread across the posterior surface. 
Dr. Lee availed himself of another opportunity which presented 
itself, on the 18th of December of the same year, of examining a 
gravid uterus in the sixth month of pregnancy, which had the 
spermatic, hypogastric and sacral nerves remaining connected with 
it ; and during the last ten months, he has been diligently occupied 
in tracing the nerves of this uterus. He believes that he has ascer- 
tained that the principal trunks of the hypogastric nerves accompany, 
not the arteries of the uterus, as all anatomists have represented, 
but the veins ; that these nerves become greatly enlarged during 
pregnancy ; and that their branches are actually incorporated, or 
coalesce with the branches of the four great fasciculated bands on 
the anterior and posterior surface of the uterus, bearing a striking 
resemblance to ganglionic plexuses of nerves, and sending nume- 
rous branches to the muscular coat of the uterus. 
The author gives the following description of the nerves of the 
gravid uterus in the sixth month, and of these fasciculated bands as 
displayed in the dissection. 
Behind the uterus, the aortic plexus divides into two portions, to 
form the right and left hypogastric plexuses. These plexuses, after 
an intimate union with the nerves accompanying the ureters, descend 
to the neck of the uterus, upper part of the vagina, and contiguous 
parts of the bladder and rectum, where they are joined by branches 
from the third and fourth sacral nerves. The left hypogastric plex- 
