64 ELEMENTS OF NERVOUS TISSUE, 



retina terminate in globular masses, and likewise 

 those of the internal ear, and olfactory mucous mem- 

 brane. 



of Nerves, whether in main trunks or branches, are 

 bundles, consisting of nerve fibres in variable number ; 

 these are grouped together in primitive and secon- 

 dary fasciculi. The primitive fasciculi consist of a 

 few fibres surrounded by delicate connecting tissue, 

 faintly fibrillated and studded with plasmatic cells ; 

 this is called the neurilemma, from its analogy with 

 the myolemma of striated muscular fibre (Robin*). 

 Secondary fasciculi are made up of primary bundles, 

 which are held together by a much denser membrane 

 consisting of ordinary connecting tissue. 



In large nervous trunks, fibres of every size are 

 found ; but those of largest size are most abundant in 

 the anterior roots of the spinal nerves, and in nerves 

 of motion, whilst fine fibres are found in greater 

 numbers in their posterior roots, in nerves of sen- 

 sation, and in branches of the great sympathetic. 

 These latter also contain a certain proportion of flat, 

 pale, smooth, or faintly, striated fibres, provided with 

 well marked oval nuclei, and known as the fibres of 

 Remak (PI. XII. fig. II.) . It is not as yet fully deter- 

 mined whether these are really nerve fibres, as 

 Rernak asserts, or merely a peculiar form of connect- 

 ing tissue, as Kolliker and some others are disposed 

 to think. We hold to the latter opinion, and regard 

 the fibres of Reinak as prolongations of the nucleated 

 connecting tissue which forms the stroma of the ner- 



* Charles Kobin, Prof, agrege d'histoire naturelle medicale a la Faculte 

 de Medecine de Paris, Prof, d' Anatomic generate, etc., etc. (Ed.} 



