PART IV. 



OF THE GENERAL INTEGUMENTS, OR OF THE CELLULAR 

 MEMBRANE, AND THE SKIN.* 



CHAPTER X. 



OF THE CELLULAR MEMBRANE. 



That substance which is situated between the skin and the 

 muscles, which is insinuated between the different muscles, 

 and between the fibres which compose tliem ; which also con- 

 nects the different parts of the body to each other, is denomi- 

 nated the Cellular Membrane, or Tela Cellulosa. 



As it extends over the whole of the body, and is most inti- 

 mately connected with the skin, it is considered as one of the 

 integuments, although it is found in great quantities in some 

 of the internal parts. 



* The integuments of the body consist of the skin or dermoid tissue, and of 

 that portion of the common cellular tissue which is subcutaneous and connects 

 the skin to the subjacent parts. The cellular tissue is loose and elastic, and by 

 its means the skin is loosely connected to the muscles, and not forced to follow 

 the muscles rigidly in their contractions. In this way the roundness of the sur- 

 face and the smoothness of the skin, is in a great measure preserved. The skin 

 is directly continuous in the mouth, nares, urethra, vagina, anus, and external 

 auditory meatus, with the mucous membranes lining the interior of all the 

 cavities of the body. The continuation or conversion of one into the other at 

 these orifices, is so gradual as to be almost insensible, as will be more carefully 

 shown under the head of mucous membrane. For this reason, by many of 

 the French anatomists, the skin is called the external tegumentary membrane, and 

 the mucous membrane the internal tegumentary membrane. The basis or derma 

 of the two tissues being considered with some modification the same, the cuticle 

 analogous to the undricd mucous of the latter membrane, the papilli and seba- 

 ceous glands of the skin, to the villi and follicles of the mucous tissue. 



This division into two membranes is not new ; it may be traced to the lime 

 of Galen, but we are indebted for its re-introduction to science, principally to 

 Bonn, and Bichat. The physiological and morbid sympathies of the two mem- 

 branes have been long known, as being more intimate, than that which exists 

 between any two thoroughly distinct tissues in the human body. — r. 



