OF THE SKIN. 



123 



ordinary temperatures, when it is treated with dilute acids and 

 alkalies. 



34. The corium is principally composed of connective and elastic 

 tissue, containing in addition, smooth muscles, fat-cells, bloodvessels, 

 nerves, and lymphatics, in great abundance. 



The connective tissue consists of the ordinary bundles, which are in 

 part united into a network, as in the subcutaneous cellular tissue ; in part 

 into large secondary bundles, trabeculce and lamince, which, in the pan- 

 niculus adiposus, circumscribe larger and smaller spaces filled with fat ; 

 whilst in the fascia superficial, and in the cerium, their connection is 

 very intimate, and they form, especially in the latter, a very dense tissue, 

 with indications of lamination. In the papillce the fibrous structure is 

 not everywhere distinct, and instead of it there often exists a more 

 homogeneous tissue,* which frequently appears to be bounded by a 



Fig. 49. 



structureless membrane, which, however, does not admit of being actually 

 isolated. 



The bursce mucosce subcutanece are nothing but larger, simple, or par- 

 tially subdivided reticular spaces in the subcutaneous cellular tissue, in 



FIG. 49. ^, Elastic fibres from the inner part of the/asaa lata of man, closely interwoven, 

 and appearing like an elastic membrane; magnified 450 diameters. JB, An elastic fibre 

 with a serrated edge, such as may also be seen occasionally in the cutis. 



* [The most superficial layer of the cutis is invariably composed of a transparent matrix, 

 homogeneous or nearly so, in which nuclei are imbedded. The " indications of lamination" 

 are simply the commencement of the breaking up of this tissue into areolated connective 

 tissue, such as we have already described ; see note, p. 83. TRS.] 



