Effects of stimulation of the phrenic nerve on the movements of the stomach and small intestine.

In our previous investigation (NAKAYAMA and MORI, 1967)9) on the reflex responses by distention of the gall bladder and biliary tracts on the movements of the stomach and small intestine, it was reported that afferent pathways from the gall bladder and biliary tracts may be contained in the thoracic and lumbar splanchnic nerves. Recently HAZARIKA et al. (1964)4) have found that the sensory nerve fibers from the gall bladder enter the spinal cord not only through the dorsal roots of the 2nd to the 10th thoracic segments but also through the phrenic nerves. It has been verified by some investigators that the phrenic nerve receives the sensory nerves from the diaphragmatic peritoneum (DAvis and POLLOCK, 19361); LITTLE and MCSWINEY, 19386); HINSEY and PHILLIP, 1940)5), and the reflex responses to stimulation of the phrenic nerve on the pupils (LITTLE and MCSWINEY, 19386)), bronchus (THORNTON, 1937)12), blood vessels or blood pressure (SCHREIBER, 1883"); GREENE, 1935)3) were investigated. The present communication deals with the reflex responses on the movements of the stomach and small intestine produced by electric stimulation of the central cut end of the phrenic nerve.