1134 



GENERAL ANATOMY OR HISTOLOGY. 



Trabeculx 



Lymph path 



Capsule 



The capsule is composed of a layer of connective tissue, and from its internal 

 surface are given off a number of membranous septa or lamellae, consisting, in man, 

 of connective tissue, with a small admixture of plain muscle-fibres ; but in many 

 of the lower animals composed almost entirely of involuntary muscle. They pass 



inward, radiating toward the cen- 



-Afferent vessel tre of the gland, for a certain 



distance ; that is to say, for about 

 one-third or one-fourth of the 

 space between the circumference 

 and the centre of the gland. They 

 thus divide the outer part of its 

 interior into a number of oval 

 compartments or alveoli (Fig. 

 673). This is the cortical por- 

 tion of the gland. After having 

 penetrated into the gland for 

 some distance, these septa break 

 up into a number of smaller tra- 

 beculae, which form flattened 

 bands or cords, interlacing with 

 each other in all directions, form- 

 ing in the central part of the organ 

 a number of intercommunicating spaces, also called alveoli. This is the medullary 

 portion of the gland, and the spaces or alveoli in it not only freely communicate 

 with each other, but also with the alveoli of the cortical portion. In these alveoli 

 or spaces (Fig. 674) is contained the proper gland-substance or lymphoid tissue. 



Lymphoid 

 tissue 



Efferent vessel 



Medullary 

 portion 



FIG. 673. Diagrammatic section of lymphatic gland, show- 

 ing the course of the lymph. 



FIG. 674. Follicle from a lymphatic gland of the dog, 

 in vertical section, a. Reticular sustentacular substance 

 of the more external portion, b, of the more internal, and 

 c, of the most external and most finely webbed part on the 

 surface of the follicle, d. Origin of a large lymph-tube. 

 e. Of a smaller one. /. Capsule, g. Septa, h. Vasafferens. 

 i. Investing space of the follicle, with its retinacula. k. 

 One of the divisions of the septa. 1,1. Attachment of the 

 lymph-tubes to the septa. 



b < 



FIG. 675. From the medullary substance of an 

 inguinal gland of the ox. (After His.) a. Lymph- 

 tube, with its complicated system of vessels, o. 

 Retinacula stretched between the tube and the 

 septa, c. Portion of another lymph-tube, d. 

 Septa. 



The gland-pulp does not, however, completely fill the alveolar spaces, but leaves, 

 between its outer margin and the trabeculee forming the alveoli a channel or space 

 of uniform width throughout. This is termed the lymph-path or lymph-sinus (Fig. 

 676). Running across it are a number of trabeculse of retiform connective tissue, 

 the fibres of winch are, for the most part, covered by ramified cells. This tissue 



