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THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 



losing its dark border, and becoming smaller, terminates 

 at or near the distal end of the cavity, in a knob-like 

 enlargement, or in a bifurcation. The enlargement com- 

 monly found at the end of the fibre, is said by Pacini to 

 resemble a ganglion-corpuscle; but this observation has 

 Pig. 136.* Fig. 137.+ 



not been confirmed. The physiological import of these 

 bodies seems to be still quite obscure. 



The central termination of nerve-fibres can be better 

 considered after the account of the vesicular nerve 

 substance. 



* Fig. 136. Extremities of a nerve of the finger with Pacinian cor- 

 puscles attached, about the natural size (adapted from Henle and 

 Kolliker). 



t Fig. 137. A magnified view of a single Pacinian corpuscle, showing 

 its laminated structure, and the termination of the nerve-fibre in its 

 central cavity (after Bendz). 



