62 CONNECTIVE TISSUE CARTILAGE BONE 



supported by fibrous bands and septa and are abundantly supplied with 

 small blood-vessels. 



The fat cells arise from the connective tissue cells bv a deposil 

 of fat droplets within the cytoplasm of the latter. These droplets 

 continue to increase in number and fuse with each other to form globules 



i.e. 



FIG. 73. PORTION OF A FAT LOBULE FROM THE AREOLAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE SUR- 

 ROUNDING THE ESOPHAGUS OF A CAT. 



cap., capillary; ct. c., nucleus of a connective tissue cell; /. c., fat cell showing 

 nucleus; tr., trabecula of nbro-elastic connective tissue. X 500. 



of increasing size, until the cytoplasm finally becomes so excavated as to 

 form a mere limiting membrane or cell wall (Fig. 74). The nucleus is 

 pushed to one side in this process and is flattened against the cell mem- 

 brane ; it is usually embedded in a remnant of granular cytoplasm. Be- 

 ing thus distended with fluid fat, the cell acquires a spheroidal shape. 

 The routine specific stains for fat are osmic acid, which colors the 



