I 7 8 



THE VITAL PROCESSES 



FIG. 78. Liver cells where 

 is stored the glycogen. C. Cap- 

 illaries. 



liver and the muscles, but mainly in the liver (Fig. 78). It 

 is a chief function of the liver to collect the excess of dex- 

 trose from the blood passing 

 through it, and to convert it 

 into glycogen, which it then 

 stores within its cells. It does 

 not, however, separate all of the 

 dextrose from the blood, a small 

 amount being left for supply- 

 ing the immediate needs of the 

 tissues. As this is used, the 

 glycogen in the liver is changed 

 back to dextrose and, dissolv- 

 ing, again finds its way into the 

 blood. In this way, the amount 



of dextrose in the blood is kept practically constant. The 

 carbohydrates are 'stored also by converting them into fat. 



2. The fat is stored for 

 the most part in the connect- 

 ive tissue. Certain of the 

 connective tissue cells have 

 the property of taking fat 

 from the blood and of deposit- 

 ing it within their inclosing 

 membranes (Fig. 79). When 

 this is done to excess, and 

 the cells become filled with FlG . 79 . _ stored-up fat. The 



fat, they form the SO-Called figure shows four connective tissue 

 adipose tissue. Most of this cells containing small particles of fat. 

 . r j j ,, I. Nucleus. 2. Protoplasm. 3. Fat. 



tissue is found under the ' 



4. Connective tissue fibers. 



skin, between the muscles, 



and among the organs occupying the abdominal cavity. 



If one readily takes on fat, it may also collect in the 



'.....a 





