EXCAVATION OF THE CARTILAGINOUS OTIC CAPSULE 



23 



a relatively inatinx^ a])pearance. As observed under lower magnifi- 

 cations, one is apt to conclude that the perichondriini is in direct 

 contact with the true cartilaj2;e. Under higher powers, however, 

 a narrow zone of transitional precartilage can be seen intervening 

 between them. In this dcHlifferentiating zone the matrix has 

 largely disappeared and the cartilaginous capsules have collapsed 

 and ar(^ flattened out. Thus the elongated endoplasm of adjacent 

 cartilage cells is brought into contact, being separated only by 



s>- 



^^ 



^,^ Epithelium 



® ^' -^•'..:j^'®f^^^ .. r, Membr.prop. 



i^.^^ '^" :M 



to 



^.^ 



^ 



-.fc ■. 7^->— ." \ ^ff'- Reticulum 



W'**' 



^ 

 « 



"m 



^■'^i^^^f''' -m^^ Perichondrium 



Precart.- retic. 



Cartilage 



Fig. 12 Detailed drnwinf-- of n port ion of flic sniiic sect ion shown in figure 11. 

 Enlarged 500 diameters. It, can he seen liere that the perichoTulriuni is a con- 

 densation of the meshes in the peripheral part of the periotic reticulum and that 

 it separated from the true cartilage by a transitional area of precartilage and 

 reticulum. 



