148 THE FIBROUS TISSUE. 



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CHAPTER VIII. 



THE FIBROUS TISSUE.' 



ANALYSIS. 



3YNONYMES, DEFINITION, DIVISION, FORM, PROPERTIES, STRUCTURE, FUNCTIONS, 

 AND RELATIONS. 



THE fibrous tissue lias received the several names of albu- 

 gineous, tendinous, aponeurotic, ligamentous and dermoid 

 tissue. It comprises an assemblage of organs, having 

 various forms, serving different purposes, but all having 

 the common character of being composed of distinct fibres, 

 both firm and strong. Its principal divisions are, 



1. Ligament. 



2. Tendon. 



3. Fibrous envelopes, &c. 



4. Fibro cartilaginous bodies. 



These several varieties do not form one continuous and 

 connected whole, though Bichat and others have endeav- 

 ored to fix a common centre. Bichat takes the periosteum 

 as this centre, others the membranes of the brain, and others 

 the aponeuroses. 



The fibrous system is distinguished by its brilliant white 

 color, great strength, so great as to have resisted effectu- 

 ally horse power, when applied to the extremities. It has 

 little extensibility, breaking before it will stretch, very lit- 

 tle elasticity, but is endowed with great flexibility, and 

 resists putrefaction for a long time. 



By desiccation it becomes "somewhat elastic, transparent, 

 of a yellowish red color, and almost homogeneous, but by 

 submitting it to the action of water, it recovers all its 

 original characters." . v " 



Boiling reduces it to a soft, gelatinous condition, though 

 at first, it is said, contracting it and making it more solid 

 and elastic. The mineral acids reduce it to a pulpy state, 

 and if concentrated, entirely dissolve it. Alkalies, it is 

 said, loosen its texture, separate its fibres, and cause them 

 to assume a diversity of colors. 



