CH. IV.] 



AREOLAB TISSUE. 



39 



the action of staining and other reagents may then be also studied. 

 By such means it is seen that this typical connective tissue consists 



Fig. 49. Bundles of the white fibres of areolar tissue partly unravelled. 

 (After Sharpey.) 



of four different kinds of material, or, as they may be termed 

 histological elements. They are : 



(a) Cells, or connective-tissue cor- 

 puscles. 



(b) A homogeneous matrix, ground 

 substance, or intercellular mate- 

 rial. 



(c) White fibres \ 



(d) Yellow or elastic fibres j 

 are deposited in the matrix. 



In considering these four histological 

 elements we may first take the fibres, 

 because they are the most obvious and 

 abundant of the structures observable. 



The white fibres. These are ex- 

 quisitely fine fibres collected into 

 bundles which have a wavy outline. 

 The bundles run in different directions, 

 forming an irregular network, the 

 meshes between which are called 

 areolce ; hence the name areolar. The 

 individual fibres never branch or join 

 other fibres, but they may pass from one bundle to another. 



On treatment with dilute acetic acid they become swollen and 



Fig. 50. Elastic fibres of areolar 

 tuwue. (After Schafer.) 



