THE 
VETERINARIAN. 
VOL. VII, No. 79.] JULY, 1834. [New Series, No. 19. 
MR. YOUATT’S VETERINARY LECTURES, 
DELIVERED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON. 
LECTURE XLII. 
The Gastric , Hepatic , and Splenic Plexuses of the Tenth Pair of 
Nerves,—The Cerebro-visceral is the Motor Nerve of the 
Stomach,—The Functions of the Stomach of the Horse and the 
Ruminant. 
WE had traced the cerebro-visceral nerve to the oesophagus, 
where it was about to pierce the diaphragm and to enter the 
abdomen. The right nerve was attached to the under surface 
of the gullet, inclining to the right; and the other branch had 
found its way to the upper surface, inclining to the left. The 
left branch is the larger of the two. Their fibres of intercommuni¬ 
cation here increase in number. I cannot say that they form a 
plexus, although it has been so described; but there are more 
frequent anastomoses between their branches, in order, it would 
seem, that the diffusion and connexion of their influence should 
be complete before they leave the thoracic cavity. I cannot 
trace any branches to the diaphragm. The oesophagus passes 
obliquely through the grand scissure between the crura of the 
diaphragm, separated from that muscle by cellular substance, and 
these nerves accompany it, clinging to its external coat, and 
enveloped in the same substance. 
The Gastric Plexuses. —The oesophagus has no sooner entered 
the abdomen, than these branches of intercommunication be¬ 
come more numerous, and a real plexus is formed about the 
base of the oesophagus, through which, however, the two nerves 
can be traced distinctly. They gradually separate more from 
each other, and before it actually reaches the stomach the left 
nerve divides into two branches. 
The Ramifications of the Left Nerve.— The one spreads over 
the upper part of the stomach, sending ramifications in every 
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