LOOSELY ORGANIZED FIBROELASTIC TISSUE 



51 



these cells produce the material toriniii^f the fibers, and the terms 

 fibroblast and fibrocytes were applied to them. The long proc- 

 esses appear to be in contact with similar processes of neighbor- 

 ing cells, if not actually fusing with them, but the cells a])i)ear to 

 act as independent units rather than as a syncytium. It is not 

 believed that the fibrocytes transform into the other types of cells 

 found in this tissue. (Fig. 28.) 



Histiocytes.— This type of cell is almost as numerous as the fibro- 

 cyte. It is smaller and has a few blunt cytoplasmic processes. 



Fig. 28. — Photograph of a spread of subcutaneous tissue of the cat showing 

 histiocytes and nuclei of fibroblasts. 



The cytoplasm stains with acid dyes, and the cellular outline is 

 visible. The nucleus is relatively small, oval or bean^shaped, with 

 distinct chromatin masse which cause it to stain darkly and stand 

 out clearly in preparations. A nucleolus is not usually present. 

 Ordinarily these cells are at rest, but imder inflammatory conditions 

 they migrate in the tissue spaces by ameboid motion. This type of 

 movement is not exliibited by the fibrocytes. The histiocytes are 

 capable of phagocytic actiAity and engulf bacteria, colloidal dyes, or 

 other particulate matter. I )uring active phagocytosis they are known 

 as macrophages and their numbers increase at points of infection and 

 inflammation. The terms clasmatocyte and resting wandering 

 cell, are also used as names for these cells. 



Amehoid Wandcriuy (VV/.s'.— These cells resemble certain of the 

 non-granular leukocA'tes of the blood so closeh' that some investi- 



