FIBROMATA. 69 



submucosa, and in connection with periosteum, gives rise to 

 sub-synovial, extradural, sub-mucous, and periosteal lipomata. 



Lastly intermuscular planes, especially of the abdominal wall, 

 often give lodging to considerable quantities of fat which 

 may form intermuscular lipomata. Occasionally also lipomata 

 are seen within the sheaths of the biceps, deltoid, rectus 

 abdominis and other muscles, constituting intramuscular 

 lipomata. 



Fibromata, or fibrous tumours. 



Fibromata may grow from connective tissue anywhere, but 

 they are peculiarly liable to occur in connection with periosteum, 

 and particularly that periosteum which is associated with 

 mucous membrane, as for instance the muco-periosteum cover- 

 ing the gums, from which an epulis, innocent in character, 

 is derived. Frequently these small tumours are attached to 

 the membrane lining the tooth socket, and are therefore in a 

 way pedunculated. 



Again, the fibrous tissue of the connective tissue sheath of a 

 nerve is a frequent starting-place of fibromata, the swelling then 

 being called a false neuroma. On the termination of some of 

 the sensory nerves small fibrous growths occur, extremely painful 

 to the touch and frequently spoken of as painful subcutaneous 

 tubercles. It is somewhat questionable whether these two 

 varieties of swellings should be classified under fibromata or 

 neuromata. 



Most of the polypi growing from mucous membranes are 

 fibromata which have undergone a certain amount of myxomatous 

 degeneration ; hence nasal polypi and the firmer naso-pharyngeal 

 outgrowths are primarily fibromata. 



In some instances pedunculated fibromata appear attached to 

 the skin, particularly about the scrotum and labium. Although 

 in some cases such tumours are thought to have their origin 

 in connection with nerve terminations, the amount of fibrous 

 tissue in the actual growth rather leads to their being classified 

 under fibromata than under neuromata. When very numerous 

 the nodules constitute a disease spoken of as neuro-fibromatosis. 



