244 SPECIAL HISTOLOGY. 



greater number, especially in the perimysium externum, which 

 may, consequently, very properly and conveniently, be regarded 

 as a semi-elastic membrane, and its function estimated in 

 accordance with this structure. In all muscles, especially in 

 those of a more lax construction, a certain number of adipose 

 cells of the usual kind (frequently containing beautiful fat- 

 crystals) occur, and in fat persons they are found quite in the 

 interior. 



§ 79. 



Connection of the Muscles with other parts. — The muscular 

 fibres are connected with the moveable parts, the bones, carti- 

 lages, articular capsules, the skin, &c, partly in a direct manner, 

 partly with the intervention of fibrous elements, the tendons, 

 fascia, certain forms of muscular ligaments and membranes (Jig. 

 interossea, membranes obturatorice). Those muscles which are 

 attached either whollv, or at one or the other end without the 

 intervention of tendons, constitute on the whole the smaller 

 number. Where the muscular fibres arise directly from bone 

 (obligui, iliacus, psoas, glutcei, &c.) and cartilage {transversus 

 abdominis, diaphragm), or rest immediately upon those struc- 

 tures {serrati, omohyoideus, sterno-hyoideus, aural muscles), 

 they never extend further than to the periosteum or peri- 

 chondrium, terminating abruptly on those membranes, with the 

 fibres of which they are not, in any way, continuous, nor do they 

 come into immediate contact with the bone or cartilage. 

 Where the muscles extend to the skin, they either expand im- 

 mediately beneath, and without any connection with it, or 

 radiate in it, in the form of larger or smaller divergent fasciculi 

 (facial muscles) ; in which case they appear to be inserted, 

 at all events occasionally, at once into the filamentary processes 

 of connective tissue. i But the precise mode of connection of 

 these tissues has not yet been ascertained. 



1 [The insertion of muscles without the intermediation of tendons, directly into 

 the connective tissue of the skin and mucous membranes, is seen very beautifully in 

 the tongue and in the facial muscles of Mammals. The former case has been well 

 described by Dr. Salter (Todd's ' Cyclopaedia,' article ' Tongue') ; the latter may be 

 examined with great ease in the levator labii saperioris of the Rat (fig. 94 A). Here, 

 the muscular bundles run in the subcutaneous connective tissue, keeping a pretty 

 even diameter until they nearly reach their insertions. They then divide into 



