5 ^ CONNECTIVE TISSUE. 



[sect. 26. 



depend upon any peculiar condition of the connective tissue itself, 

 but are occasioned by the vessels, fat-cells, etc., contained in it. 

 Among the higher elementary parts, the bundles of the connective 

 tissue and the elastic fibres stand lowest in the scale, and are, ac- 

 cordingly, regenerated with the greatest facility. 



The combination of the different elements of connective tissue 

 takes place in various ways, and the following forms are the best 

 marked : — 



1. Firm connective tissue (" connective tissue of determinate 

 form," Henle). In this the elements are intimately connected, 

 and in such a manner, that simple organs of a perfectly deter- 

 minate form arise from it. To this division belong : 



a. The tendons and ligaments, with parallel bundles, united by 

 looser connective tissue into larger cords, between which a certain 

 number of anastomosing plasm-cells, fine elastic fibres and elastic 

 networks are regularly disposed. 



b. The Jibro-cartilages. Having the structure of tendons and 

 ligaments, but with numerous cartilage or plasm-cells interspersed. 

 They occur either as special organs, as the interarticular fibro- 

 cartilages, and the circumferential, such as the glenoid and coty- 

 loid (labra glenoidea), or at particular places in other organs 

 formed of connective tissue, especially in tendons, sheaths of 

 tendons, and ligaments. 



c. The fibrous membranes. These are distinguished from a. only 

 by the frequent interweaving of the bundles, and by generally 

 containing a larger proportion of elastic fibres. To this division 

 belong : 



1. The muscular fascice, which have more the structure of tendons. 



2. Tlxe periosteum and perichondrium, containing, in some parts, 

 a great many elastic fibres. 



3. The white dense envelope of many soft organs, as the dura 

 mater, the neurilemma, the sclerotic and cornea, the fibrous coat 

 of the spleen and kidney, the tunica albuginea of the ovaries, tes- 

 ticles, penis, and clitoris. In the last-mentioned parts, and in 

 the spleen, these envelopes, which contain firm connective tissue 

 and numerous fine elastic fibres, are continued into the interior of 

 the organs, and here, mixed to some extent with smooth muscular 

 fibres, form a more or less perfect frame-work, which sometimes 

 appears in the form of partitions, or of a stroma, or of a trabe- 

 cular network. A modification occurs in the cornea, in which the 

 connective tissue is transparent, contains numerous plasm-cells, 

 and yields, on boiling with water, chondrin, but no gelatine. 



