THE THYMUS. 



185 



surrounding parts by a lax connective tissue. Larger lobules, 

 measuring on the average 2 — 5'", and of a rounded, oval or 

 pyriform shape, though for the most part flattened figure, are 

 very distinctly apparent, even on superficial inspection; these, 

 although pretty closely approximated, are still united merely by 

 a yielding connective tissue and may be separated without 



Fig. 242. 



Fig. 243. 



difficulty. If these lobules be traced from without inwards, it 

 is easily perceived that they have no further mutual connexion, 

 although they are invariably attached b}^ a more slender 

 portion, to a canal, which traverses the interior of the gland, 



Fig. 242. Portion of the thymus of a Calf, unfolded : a, main canal ; b, glandular 

 lobules ; c, isolated gland-granules, seated upon the main canal. Natural size. 



Fig. 243. Half of the human thymus, with a large cavity in the inferior wide 

 portion, and numerous orifices leading into the lobules. 



