CONNECTIVE TISSUE. 



59 



consequence of its physical properties. Only the more vas- 

 cular connective-tissue structures take a more active part in 

 the normal material changes. 



During abnormal conditions, however, our tissue assumes 

 a new and more vigorous life. From the cells other tissue 

 elements may be formed. To determine the magnitude of 

 this participation more accurate studies . 

 are indeed necessary, for the wandering 

 lymphoid cells also play their part, and, in 

 our opinion, in a very important manner. 



We also mention the origin of the con- 

 nective tissue. The terminations are 

 again similar to those of cartilage. Mem- 

 braneless protoplasmatic stellate and 

 spindle cells are noticed at an early peri- 

 od, held together by a scanty intercellular 

 substance, which is at first homogeneous. 

 A transformation soon takes place in the 

 latter and in the cells, the processes of 

 the latter dividing into groups of fine 

 connective-tissue fibrillar (Fig. 25, /;). 

 These bundles of fibrillar gradually ap- 

 proach the cell nucleus. The original 

 cell protoplasma also becomes changed 

 into bundles of fibrillar ; new protoplas- 

 ma, taking the place of the old, surrounds 

 the nucleus, to subsequently pass through 

 the same process of metamorphosis (Fig. 

 57, A), till at last the cells lie outside of 

 their children, that is, the bundles formed from them, in the 

 shape of lamellae, with notched margins, or irregular, paddle- 

 wheel-like structures (see above). 



In this intercellular substance, the genesis of which we 

 now understand, the formation of elastic fibres and reticular 

 fibres also takes place subsequently (B). How far the cellu- 

 lar elements participate in this requires still more accurate 

 investigation. 



Fig. 57. — From the liga- 

 mentum nuchae of a hog's 

 embryo. A. side view ; a. 

 spindle cells in a fibrous ba- 

 sis substance, b ; B, the 

 elastic fibres c, brought out 

 by boiling in a solution of 

 potash (alcohol preparation). 



