512 



NERVOUS SYSTEM. 



from these divisions pass to the sarcolemma and terminate in a rather prom- 

 inent mass called an end-plate, with six to twelve or sometimes sixteen nuclei 

 which are distinct from the nuclei of the muscular fibre. The tubular mem- 

 brane of the nerve-fibre here fuses with the sarcolemma (Rouget) and the 

 medullary substance is lost. By the action of gold chloride, it has been 

 shown that fibrils arise from the under surface of the end-plates, which pass 

 into the substance of the muscular fibres, between the muscular fibrillae. 



FIG. 176. Intrafibrillar terminations of a motor nerve in striated muscle, stained with gold chloride 



(Landois). . 



These fibrils probably are connected with the axis-cylinders, but their exact 

 mode of termination in the muscular substance has not been satisfactorily 

 demonstrated. 



Although the sensibility of the muscles is slight as compared with that 

 of the skin and mucous membranes, they are not insensible and they possess 

 nerve-fibres other than those exclusively motor. According to Kolliker, 

 small medullated fibres go to the muscular tissue and here give off very fine 

 non-medullated fibres, which terminate in fibres of the same appearance but 



provided with nuclei. These form a plexus on 

 the sarcolemma and surround the muscular fibres. 

 It is not certain that they penetrate the sarco- 

 lemma and terminate in the muscular substance, 

 although this view has been advanced. 



Termination of Nerves in the Involuntary 

 Muscular Tissue. According to the observa- 

 tions of Frakenhaeuser upon the nerves of the 

 uterus, the nerve-fibres form a plexus in the con- 

 nective tissue surrounding the involuntary mus- 

 cles and then send small fibres into the sheets or 

 layers of muscular-fibre cells, which branch and 

 finally go into the nucleoli of these structures. 

 Arnold has confirmed these observations and has 

 FIG. 177. -Termination of nerves in shown farther that in many instances, the fine, 

 non-stnated muscle (CaAiat). terminal ner ve-fibres branch and go into the 



nuclei of the muscular fibres and afterward pass out to join with other fibres 

 and form a plexus. 



Termination of the Nerves 'in Glands. The researches of Pfliiger upon 

 the salivary glands leave no doubt of the fact that medullated nerve-fibres 

 pass to the cells of these organs and there abruptly terminate, at least as 

 dark-bordered fibres. This author believes, however, that having formed a 



