chap, xxv.] SMALL AND LARGE INTESTINE. 201 



The gland tubes are ensheathed in a longitudinal 

 network of capillary blood-vessels derived from arteries 

 of the submucosa. This network forms on the surface 

 a special dense horizontal layer, from which the venous 

 branches are derived. The outer muscular coat and the 

 muscularis mucosse possess their own vascular supply. 



269. The lymphatics form a network in the 

 mucosa near the fundus of the glands. Into this 

 plexus lead lymphatics running longitudinally between 

 the glands anastomosing with one another freely, and 

 extending to near the surface (Loven). Another 

 plexus belongs to the submucosa. 



Between the longitudinal and circular stratum of 

 the outer muscular coat, and extending parallel to the 

 surface, is a plexus of non-medullated nerve-branches 

 with a few ganglia in its nodes. This corresponds to the 

 plexus of Auerbach of the intestine, and is destined 

 for the outer muscular coat. A second plexus of non- 

 medullated nerve-branches with ganglia also extending 

 parallel to the surface lies in the submucosa. This cor- 

 responds to the plexus o/Meissner of the intestine, and 

 is destined for the muscularis mucosse and the mucosa. 



According to Rabe, the gastric gland tubes in the 

 horse are surrounded by a rich plexus of nerve-fibres, 

 terminating in peculiar spindle-shaped cells. 



CHAPTER XXV. 



THE SMALL AND LARGE INTESTINE. 



270. THE epithelium covering the inner or free 

 surface of the mucous membrane of the small and 

 large intestine is a single layer of columnar cells, their 

 protoplasm more or less distinctly longitudinally fibril- 

 lated ; their free surface appears covered with a 



