234 





VESSELS AND NERVES OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE. 



in close proximity to the nucleus of an adjacent cell ; they thus present the appear- 

 ance of being arranged in pairs (fig. 274). Here and there a third nucleus, with a 

 small amount of protoplasm, may be seen interpolated between two such cells. 



The lamellar extensions of the cells do not always end with an even line, but are 

 themselves often prolonged into fine branches, which penetrate still further into the 

 ground-substance which separates the fibre-bundles of the tendon from one another. 



In the pure elastic tissue, such as that which constitutes the ligamentum nuchae 



Fig. 272. CELL-SPACES OP TENDON OF MOUSE'S TAIL, BROUGHT INTO VIEW BY TREATMENT WITH 



NITRATE OF SILVER. 175 DIAMETERS. (E. A. S. ) 



Fig. 273. TRANSVERSE SECTION OF TENDON OF MOUSE'S TAIL STAINED WITH LOGWOOD. 175 DIAMETERS. 



(E. A. S.) 



The flattened processes of the tendon-cells (which are stained 'deeply by logwood) appear in section 

 as lines, frequently coming off at right angles from the body of the cell. The bundles of fibres are not 

 represented ; they are very irregular, and but incompletely separated by the cell-processes. 



in animals and the ligamenta subflava in man, it is generally stated that cells are 

 altogether absent. Schwalbe finds on the contrary numerous flat connective tissup 



Fig. 274. EIGHT CELLS FROM THE SAME TENDON AS REPRESENTED IN FIG. 271. MAGNIFIED 425 



DIAMETERS. (E. A. S.) 



The nuclei, with their numerous nucleoli, were deeply coloured by the logwood. The dark lines on 

 the surface of the cells are the optical sections of lamellar extensions directed towards or away from the 

 observer. 



cells scattered in the ground-substance which lies between the elastic fibres ; the cells 

 being often in close apposition with the elastic fibres, but never in continuity with 

 them, as has been described by some authors. 



Vessels and nerves. Blood-vessels, lymphatics, and nerves are everywhere 

 conveyed in the areolar tissue to the places where they are to be distributed, 

 but very few blood-capillaries are destined for the tissue itself, although abun- 

 dant lymphatic networks are present in many parts ; especially in the subcutaneous, 

 subserous and submucous tissues. It is uncertain whether nerves terminate in the 

 areolar tissue. It may be cut in a living animal apparently without giving pain, 

 except when the instrument meets with those branches of nerves which traverse the 

 tissue on their way to other parts. 



The fibrous tissue receives blood-vessels, but in general they are inconsiderable 

 both in number and size compared with the mass of tissue to which they belong. 

 In tendons and ligaments with longitudinal fasciculi, the chief branches of the 

 vessels run parallel with and between the larger fasciculi, and, sending communi- 

 catiug branches across them, eventually forming a very open network with large oblong 

 meshes. Some fibrous membranes, as the periosteum and dura mater, are much 



