INTRODUCTION 



directions in space but, in the case of rod-shaped elements, to two 

 dimensions only, or even to only one in the case of lamellar submicro- 

 scopic elements, which may be clustered to form complicated systems. 



TABLE I 

 MORPHOLOGY 



According to Table I the domain of fine structures forms a link 

 between our present knowledge of cytological and molecular 

 morphology. We must therefore attempt to penetrate into the study 

 of micellar systems from these two known sides. Starting from the 

 region of visible structures, we must resort to our knowledge of 

 phases, while on the other, molecular, side we should apply our knowl- 

 edge of crystal structure. Both these theories cover morphological 

 domains which fall outside the hierarchy given in Table I. There is no 

 upper Hmit to the dimensions of phases, although there does exist a 

 lower hmit which we shall have to consider. Similarly, there exists no 

 upper limit, on theoretical grounds, to the regular arrangement of 

 atoms and molecules in crystal lattices. For this reason, we can use 

 these abstract sciences, which are less sensitive to dimensions, as an 

 introduction to the study of fine structures. 



Morphology is not an ultimate goal of science, but it represents one 

 of its most important foundations. No physical problem can be attacked 

 without first defining accurately the mutual positions of the various 



