592 Tloyal Society : — Dr. Robert Lee on the 
us, about two inches below the aortic plexus, sends off a large 
branch, which passes on the inside of the ureter to the superior 
titerine vein, where it is about to terminate in the hypogastric vein. 
Here the nerve suddenly expands, becomes broad and thin, and 
passes into a great plexus of nerves, which completely encircles the 
vein. This plexus, surrounding the uterine vein, is joined below by 
two large branches, which proceed from the hypogastric plexus 
nearer the vagina, and lower down, and from which branches pass 
on the outside of the ureter. From the upper part of this plexus, 
surrounding the uterine vein near its termination, three large trunks 
of nerves proceed upwards with the vein to the superior part of the 
uterus, and enlarge as they ascend. The posterior branch of these 
hypogastric nerves sends off in its course smaller branches, which 
accompany the ramifications of the uterine vein on the posterior 
surface of the uterus. Passing upwards beyond the junction of the 
spermatic with the uterine vein, and running between the peritoneum 
and the left posterior fasciculated band, it spreads out into a web of 
thin broad branches and slender nervous filaments, some of which 
are inserted into the peritoneum, and others follow the vein to the 
fundus uteri, which they completely surround as the vein passes 
down into the muscular coat of the uterus. 
Some of the branches of this nerve, near the fundus uteri, are 
distributed to the muscular coat, but these are small and few in 
number. 
The middle and anterior branches of the hypogastric nerves ad- 
here closely to the uterine vein as they ascend, and form around it 
several plexuses, which completely invest the vessel. From these 
plexuses branches are sent off to the anterior surface of the uterus, 
some of which, in an arborescent form, follow the trunk and 
branches of the uterine artery. These two hypogastric nerves 
ascend, and closely unite with the left posterior fasciculated band. 
On the left side of the uterus this band arises near the mesial line, 
on the back of the uterus, midway between the fundus and cervix, 
from a mass of fibres, which adhere so firmly both to the peritoneum 
and muscular coat that it is difficult precisely to determine their ar- 
rangement. From these fibres the band proceeds across the uterus, 
in the form of a thin web, to the point where the spermatic vein is 
leaving the uterus. After closely uniting with the hypogastric 
nerves, this band proceeds outwards to the round ligament, becoming 
less firmly adherent to the peritoneum, where it unites with the left 
anterior band, and spreads out into a great web, under the perito- 
neum, The left posterior band is loosely attached, through its whole 
course, to the subjacent muscular coat by soft cellular membrane. 
The spermatic nerves on the left side pass down to the ovarium 
with the spermatic artery, and first give ofi* several branches to the 
corpus fimbriatum. A few small branches are then sent into the 
outer end of the ovary. The spermatic nerves afterwards leave the 
artery, and proceed with the veins to the uterus, where they firmly 
unite to tlie outer extremity of the left posterior band ; and after 
the junction of this band with the prolongations of the anterior 
