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THE SEE VOL'S SYSTEM. 317

with branches from the glosso-pharyngeul, superior larviiji'ea and the
sympathetic system, through the sujierior cervical ganglion to form
the pharyngeal plexus. This plexus is extremely ini])ortant, and
is situated on the lateral surface of the
Fig. 153.
middle constrictor muscle. It usually
contains one or more ganglia. Branches
are distributed from this plexus to the
nniscles and nuicous membrane of the
])harynx. It also gives oif the lingual
branch of the vagus nerve (Luschka).
They receive branches from the glosso-
pharyngeal and pneumogastric nerves,
pass downward, and join the hypoglossal
nerve whei'e that nerve curves around
the occipital artery.
The finperior LaryngeaJ Brancli arises
as a rounded cord from the middle and
inner side of the inferior ganglion or
ganglion of the trunk of tlie pneumo-
gastric nerve, or '' from the side oj)})osite
to the point of junction of the pneumo-
gastric with communicating branches of
the sjiinal accessor}', so that probably the
superior laryngeal nerve contains few if
any motor fibres from this nerve " (Flint).
Quain, in describing the lower ganglion,
says : " The accessory part of the spinal
accessory nerve runs over the surface of
the ganglion, and is in a great measure
continued directly into the pharyngeal
and superior laryngeal nerves."
The superior pharyngeal nerve is the
important sensory nerve of the larynx,
especially in the region of the glottis.
It acts as the sentinel to the opening of
the air-passage to guard against foreign
Origin and Connections of Uie Glosso-
matter, such as food, solid or liquid, from pharyngeal, Pneumogastric, and Spi-
nal Accessory JJerves: 1, facial nerve;
enterinu; duriup; defflutition. It is also
2, glossopharyngeal ; V,, pneumogas-
motor in its function, and distributes tric ; 4, spinal accessory; 5, hypo-
glossal; n, external (niiisculari branch
motor filaments to the crico-thyroid mus- of the spinal accessory; 7, superior
laryngeal branch of the pneumogas-
cle, as well as small filaments to the in-
tric
; s, jiharyngeal plexus; !i, laryn-
geal pk'x us and upper cardiac branches
ferior constrictor and arytenoid muscles.
(if tlie pneumogastric; I'l. tympanic
It passes downward and inward behind plexus, from a branch of tlie glosso-
pharyngeal.
both the internal and external carotid
arteries, thence along the superior margin of the inferior constrictor
muscle of the pharynx, where it divides into tMo brai]ches, external and
internal. Previous to its division it receives filaments from the upjier
cervical sympathetic ganglion and from the pharyngeal plexus.
The External Laryngeal Branch is smaller but longer than the supe-
rior laryngeal. It passes downward and forward under the depressor