GENERAL CONSIDEEATIONS ON THE STRIPED MUSCLES. 231 



In this work we will follow the nomenclature of Bourgelat, which will, how- 

 ever, be submitted to some change. But as the names given by Girard are, in 

 our opinion, of some assistance to students, care will be taken to include them in 

 the synonymy. 



(It only remains for me to add that Chauveau's nomenclature will be followed 

 as closely as possible. It possesses advantages which are greatly superior to that 

 adopted by Percivall ; and as, in my opinion, the names and terms imported into 

 science should be as nearly alike in all languages as may be compatible with cir- 

 cumstances, in order to facilitate study, comparison, and reference, I the more 

 readily venture to take this course. Percivall's nomenclature will, however, be 

 added in brackets to the synonyms, as well as that of Leyh and Gurlt, when 

 occasion appears to demand it. 



Structure of the Striped Muscles. 



There enter into the structure of muscles : 1. Muscular tissue, properly 

 so called. 2. Connective tissue in the form of deUcate lamellse, aponeuroses, or 

 tendons. 3. Vessels and nerves. 



A. Muscular Tissue. — This tissue is composed of prismatic fasciculi, which 

 it is possible to divide and subdivide into several smaller and smaller fasciculi, 

 until the muscular fibre or primitive fasciculus is reached. 



The muscular fibre is a kind of irregular cylinder, from O'OIO to 0-008 milli- 

 metres in length. It is sometimes straight, sometimes slightly \\Tinkled, but 

 always striped either in a longitudinal or transverse direction, or both at once ; 

 the transverse striae, being usually more marked, gives the fibril a very elegant 

 scalariform aspect. 



This fibre is formed by an envelope and contents. 



The envelope is a very delicate, structureless membrane of an elastic nature, 

 named the sarcolemma or myolemma (Fig. 146). Flat or oval nuclei in greater 

 or less number can be seen on its inner face. 



The contents, or muscular substance, can easily be resolved into parallel fibrillce, 



verse spinous, the subscapularis, the eupra-spinatus, the infra-spinatus, etc., as they are found in 

 a greater or less marked degree in identical conditions. 



Other muscles have received names derived in part from their situation, and in part from 

 their volume. These names are far from being as convenient as the first ; as may be judged 

 from the following examples : — 



In the majority of vertebrate animals, there are three important muscles situated above 

 and behind the pelvis, and forming the base of the croup ; they have been designated gluteals, 

 and this name is convenient, because it designates their situation. But to distinguish them 

 from each other, regard has been had to their volume ; so that there is a great, a medium, and 

 a small gluteus. This is an error, however, for the volume of the muscles is subject to the 

 greatest variations, and a voluminous muscle in one species may be a very small one in 

 anotlier, and vice versa. The muscle analogous to the gluteus maximus in Man has been 

 described by Bourgelat as the minimus, and by Lafosse and Rigot as the medius. With regard 

 to the gluteus medius of Man, its representative in the lower animals has been designated as 

 the maximus by the majority of veterinary anatomists. What confusion ! And how easy it 

 was to evade it by distinguishing these muscles, not by their volume, but by their reciprocal 

 connections, which are the same in every species ! Is it not, indeed, more natural to substitute 

 the names of superficial, middle, and deep gluteals, for those of great, etc. ? 



The same remark is applicable to the muscles which, in Man, cover the anterior aspect of 

 the chest. Designated in common, and justly so, as pectorals, tliese muscles are wrongly 

 distinguished into great and little ; for the last, which is already an enormous muscle in the 

 smaller Ruminants, is represented in Solipeds by two considerable muscles, much more 

 voluminous than the muscle analogous to the great pectoral. It is only necessary, in this 

 case, to change their names into superficial and deep pectorals. 



