A study of ganglion cells in the sympathetic nervous system, with special reference to intrinsic sensory neurones

The Mammalian sympathetic nervous system presented apparently insurmountable obstacles to both anatomists and physiologists till the publication of Gaskell’s Monograph in 1885 (1). Our knowledge of its structure and functions is now, however, placed on a much firmer basis; and it is possible to enter seriously into a consideration of its morphology and development. A. Physiology . The cells composing the ganglia in the main sympathetic chain are shown by Gaskell to be trophic only. They are neither automatic nor reflex in their action, but merely nourish the fibres which pass from them centrally or peripherally. The gray Rami communicantes spring from the ganglia and are distributed as trophic fibres to the roots and trunk of each spinal nerve and their meninges , and the bodies of the vertebræ. In some cases (e.g. fore and hind limbs) the vasomotor fibres reach their destination through these Kami. The white Rami communicantes are only found in two regions. In the Dog between the tenth and twenty-fifth spinal nerves (second dorsal—second lumbar), and in the Kami of the second and third sacral nerves. This corresponds fairly accurately with their distribution in the human subject (2). In both regions they consist of very small medullated fibres ( 1·8 µ to 2·7 µ ). In the anterior region the white Rami pass from the spinal nerves to the ganglia, and there separate into two groups; one set forms vasomotor fibres, which join the ganglia, become connected with the ganglion-cells, and are distributed peripherally as gray fibres, greatly increased in numbers. The other set does not join the ganglia, but, passing over them, forms the nerves distributed in the Splanchnics to the abdominal viscera as viscero-inhibitory fibres. In the Posterior region white Rami arise from the second and third (and in man fourth (2)) sacral nerves which pass over without joining the ganglia; becoming connected with the hypogastric plexus, they are distributed as the Nervi erigentes ( Vaso-inhibitory fibres). They are possibly also viscero-inhibitory .

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VI. The chromaffine system of annelids and the relation of this system to the contractile vascular system in the leech, hirudo medicinalis. - A contribution to the comparative physiology of the contractile vascular system and its regulators, the adrenalin secreting system and the sympathetic nervous system

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London Series B Containing Papers of a Biological Character (1896-1934) ◽

10.1098/rstb.1914.0015 ◽

1914 ◽

Vol 205 (313-324) ◽

pp. 153-211 ◽

Cited By ~ 65

Keyword(s):

Nervous System ◽

Sympathetic Nervous System ◽

Common Property ◽

Vascular System ◽

Ganglion Cells ◽

The Body ◽

Suprarenal Glands ◽

Sympathetic Nervous ◽

Mother Cells ◽

Almost All

The Distribution of the Chromaffine System in the Annelid Kingdom . The possession of a chromaffine system, consisting of cells which take a yellow stain with chrome salts, is a common property of almost all the members of the vertebrate kingdom. The presence of this reaction is coincident with, and probably dependent upon, the secretion by these cells of the substance adrenalin. The investigations of Lewandowski (30), Langley (29), Elliott (11), and others have established that the physiological actions of this latter substance are the same as those which result from the stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. The latest researches of Elliott (12), Von Anrep (43) and others, have shown in addition that the adjuvant action of adrenalin is essential for the efficient performance of the functions of the sympathetic nervous system. This is supported by pathological considerations, for it has long been recognised that many of the symptoms of Addison’s disease, in which the chief lesion is the destruction of the medullary chromaffine tissue of the suprarenal glands, are those of failure of the sympathetic nervous system. From a physiological standpoint, it is, therefore, necessary that the two systems should co-exist, and a close morphological relationship between them is rendered probable. The researches of Kohn (26) on the embryological origin of the chromaffine system in the mammalia have established that the ganglion cells of the sympathetic system and the cells of the chromaffine system, which are in the embryo widely distributed through the body, arise from a common group of mother cells; Kohn therefore names the chromaffine system the Paraganglion system. These researches are in agreement with the original statement of Balfour (2) that the paired suprarenal bodies of Elasmobranchs, which consist of chromaffine cells, are developed in the sympathetic ganglion masses; Kohn has also made similar investigations in these fishes and confirmed the observations of Balfour.

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