312 



SPECIAL HISTOLOGY. 



-JlOmMyO 



highly elastic, strong ligaments, the elastic elements of which, 

 in the form of roundish polygonal fibres, 0-0015 — O'OO^" 

 thick, united into a dense network, run parallel with the long 



axis of the vertebral column, 

 A and give the longitudinal, 



fibrillar aspect to the liga- 

 ments. Between these fibres, 

 which are not collected either 

 into fasciculi or lamella, 

 but are continuously con- 

 nected throughout the en- 

 tire thickness of each yellow 

 ligament, there is interposed 

 some connective tissue, upon 

 the whole in small quantity, 

 but demonstrable in every 

 preparation, and occurring 

 in the form of lax undu- 

 lating fasciculi, which are 

 arranged parallel with the 

 principal direction of the 

 elastic fibres. According to 

 Todd and Bowman (p. 72), 

 the stylo-hyoid, and internal 

 lateral ligament of the lower 

 jaw, are, also, chiefly com- 

 posed of strong elastic fibres. 

 3. By cartilage, synchon- 

 drosis. This mode of con- 

 nection is effected either by cartilage alone, or associated with 

 fibro-cartilaginous and fibrous tissue. The former condition is 

 observed in the adult, only between the ribs and sternum, 

 where, however, properly speaking, a true synchondrosis exists 

 only in the case of the first rib, the rest, from the second to 

 the seventh, being connected with the sternum at the anterior 



Fig. 121. A, transverse section through a portion of the ligamentum nucha of the 

 Ox, x 350 diam., and treated with soda ; a, connective tissue, apparently homoge- 

 neous; b, transverse section of the elastic fibres (0-004 — 0-01'" in diameter). 

 B, elastic fibres ; a, from a human lig. subflavum, togethei with some connective 

 ♦issue, b, between them; x 450 diam. 



