ANATOMY OF THE BONES. 4:85 



finally surround the fatty lobules and the fat-vesicles with a 

 delicate capillary plexus. The veins correspond to the arte- 

 ries in their distribution. The nerves follow the arteries, 

 and are lost when these vessels no longer present a muscular 

 coat. 1 Nothing is known of the presence of lymphatics in 

 any part of the bones, or in the periosteum. 



The only point of physiological interest connected with 

 the marrow is, that it has been found to possess, in common 

 with the periosteum, but in a less degree, the property 

 of generating true bony substances. TVe shall see further 

 on, that the periosteum is not only very important to the 

 nutrition of the bones, but that it will generate bone when 

 transplanted into vascular parts. M. Oilier, who has made 

 a very extended series of experiments upon the physiological 

 properties of the periosteum, endeavored to produce bone by 

 transplanting portions of marrow, but was unsuccessful. 

 M. Goujon, however, has lately been more fortunate. He 

 has found that frequently, but not always, marrow trans- 

 planted into the muscular tissue will generate bone, particu- 

 larly the marrow taken from young bones, but the bony 

 tissue thus formed is soon absorbed. 3 



Periosteum. In most of the bones the periosteum pre- 

 sents a single layer of fibrous tissue ; but in some of the long 

 bones two or three layers may be demonstrated. This mem- 

 brane adheres to the bone, but can generally bs separated 

 without much difficulty. It covers the bones completely, 

 except at the articular surfaces, where its place is supplied 

 by cartilaginous incrustation. It is composed mainly of 

 fibres of the white inelastic variety, with numerous small 

 elastic fibres, blood-vessels, nerves, and a few adipose 

 vesicles. 



The arterial branches ramifying in the periosteum are 



1 SAPPET, op. czV., p. 95. 



2 GOUJOX, Recherches experimentales sur les proprieles physiologiqiies de la 

 moelle des os. Journal de T anatomic, Paris, 1869, tome vi., p. 399, el seq. 



