54 PRACTICAL MICROSCOPY. 



Procure a small piece of the ligamentum nuchce of the ox, and tease- 

 it on the slide after its having been macerated in acetic acid for a few 

 moments. The acid softens the fibrous connective tissue and facili- 

 tates the teasing process. 



The individual fibres having been isolated, they appear as in Fig. 

 36. When broken, they curl upon themselves like threads of India 

 rubber. 



This tissue is variously disposed throughout the body where great 

 strength with elasticity becomes necessary. The large arteries are 

 abundantly supplied with elastic fibre, arranged in plates, in alterna- 

 tion with muscle. As a network, it is mixed with connective ti>sue in 

 the skin, and in membranes generally. It contributes elasticity to 

 cartilage where the fibres form an intricate network. 



Ligaments are composed largely of yellow elastic tissue. Fig. 37 is 

 drawn from a portion of a stained, transverse section of the ligamen- 

 tum siifrflava. 



A strong sheath of fibrous tissue is thrown around the whole liga- 

 ment, a portion of which is seen at S. This sheath sends prolonga- 

 tions, T, T. into the structure, dividing it into irregular bundles, 

 which support nutrient vessels. The elastic fibres seen in transverse 

 section, as at E, E, are observed strongly bound together with fibrous 

 tissue, which penetrates the smaller fasciculae, dividing them into the 

 ultimate fibr illce. 



ADIPOSE TISSUE. 



Adipose or fat tissue is a modification of, and development from 

 ordinary connective tissue. 



It originates in certain contiguous connective-tissue corpuscles, be- 

 coming filled with minute fat globules. These ultimately coalesce 

 and form single, large globules, which bulge out the cell-bodies until 

 they become spheroids ; the nuclei at the same time are displaced to 

 the periphery. An aggregation of such cells forms a lobule of adi- 

 pose tissue. The cells are often so closely packed as to assume a 

 polyhedral form. From malnutrition, this fat may be absorbed, 

 ordinary connective tissue remaining. 



You will bear in mind the fact that whenever fat exists in a condi- 

 tion of minute subdivision, the particles always assume the globular 

 form; and that while adipose tissue contains fat, fat alone is not 

 adipose tissue. 



