General Anatomy, Applied to Physiology and Medicine, Vol. 1 (of 3)Bichat, Xavier
Science
General Anatomy, Applied to Physiology and Medicine, Vol. 1 (of 3)
Bichat, Xavier
Human anatomy; Human physiology
The texture of the ganglions appears in nowise fibrous; there is
absolutely no linear, filamentous appearance, &c. upon simple
inspection. Homogeneous, if we may so say, in its nature, it presents
every where an uniform aspect when cut in slices. However the
celebrated Scarpa has considered the ganglions as resulting from a
kind of expansion of the nerves, into an infinite number of extremely
delicate fibres, which interlace with each other, and which become
very distinct by maceration. I have not repeated all his experiments,
which appear to me extremely difficult. I refer then to his work, and
to the plates it contains. I would observe only that there is certainly
something else in the ganglions, besides a simple division of the nerve
into extremely fine threads. In fact, mere inspection is sufficient to
establish between them the greatest difference. There is as evident a
demarcation between the ganglions and the nerves, as between those of
the brain and the brain itself. 1st. Difference of colour, reddish or
greyish tinge in some, white in others; 2d. difference of consistence,
of external qualities, &c.; 3d. difference of properties. If the nerves
coming from the spinal marrow make only an expansion, in their passage,
in the ganglions, by delicate filaments, there would then be only a
difference of form and not of nature; the properties would be the same.
Why then are they so different as I shall prove hereafter? Why, as a
nerve goes from a ganglion, does it not communicate more voluntary
motions? 4th. Why has not nature placed ganglions in the nerves of the
extremities as in those of the other parts? If there is only a division
of the nerve into finer filaments, in the ganglion, why is there not a
proportion between the filaments that enter on one side, and those that
go out at the opposite? In fact, those that enter into the superior
cervical above, if they only expanded their filaments in this ganglion,
and united afterwards to form those that go off below, would be equal
in respect to size to those that go from it; all the ganglions would
exhibit this constant relation between the nerves of one side and those
of the opposite; now, it is sufficient to examine them to be convinced
that an inverse arrangement exists. 6th. The ganglions ought always to
be in proportion to the size of the nerves which form them by spreading
their fibres. Why then are the intercostal ganglions so small, and the
trunks that unite them, or rather that give origin to them and which
go from them afterwards as we see in the usual manner, so large? Why
on the contrary, is the superior cervical ganglion so large, and its
branches so small? 7th. How can be explained the frequent interruptions
between the ganglions in man, which are constant in many animals, if
there is a continuity between the nervous filaments that enter the
ganglions above, and those that go from them below? 8th. How does it
happen that the ganglions and their nerves do not follow an exact
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