IRRITABILITY AND CONDUCTIVITY 



183 



Fig. 44. Thegracilis. 



upper and the other to the lower portion of the 

 muscle. 



Eernove the muscle together with a portion of 

 its attached nerve, and examine 

 the inner surface (Fig. 44). 

 The nerve (N) divides into two 

 branches, of which the upper 

 (K) runs to the shorter portion 

 of the muscle and is unbranched 

 for some distance, while the 

 other (Z) has a very short stem 

 and sinks almost at once into the 

 substance of the lower part. One of the branches 

 (H) perforates the muscle and goes to the skin. 



With a sharp 

 pair of scissors cut 

 out entirely the part 

 shaded in the dia- 

 gram, without in- 

 juring the nerves. 

 The halves of the 

 muscle are now 

 united only by the 

 forked nerve. 



Stimulate the end branches of the nerve in 

 one of the pieces of muscle by snipping with 

 scissors ; also chemically, with a lump of salt. 



Both pieces will contract. 



Pig. 45. 



