124- LECTURE V. 



Hence we see how, although the tendon contains no 

 vessels in its most internal parts, arid, as may be ob- 

 served in every case of tenotomy, receives but little 

 blood by the external vessels of its sheath, and by the 

 internal vessels of the septa between the larger fasciculi, 

 it is possible, notwithstanding, for a uniform nutrition 

 of the parts to take place. This we cannot imagine to 

 be effected in any other way than by the distribution of 

 nutritive juices in a regular manner throughout the 

 entire substance of the tendon by means of special canals 

 distinguishable from the vessels. The natural divisions 

 of the tendon are, however, nearly entirely symmetrical, 

 so that an equally large quantity of intercellular sub- 

 stance falls to the share of every cellular element, and 

 as the cell-networks in the interior can be directly 

 traced into the dense bundles of cells of the septa, and 

 these in their turn up to the vessels (Figs. 37, 38), we 

 may, I think, unhesitatingly regard these reticulating 

 cells as the channels for the transmission of this inter- 

 mediate current of nutritive juice, which has no commu- 

 nication by means of orifices with the general circu- 

 lation. 



You have here a fresh instance in support of my view 

 with regard to cell-territories. I would parcel out the 

 whole tendon, not into primary and secondary fasciculi, 

 but rather into certain series of cells connected in a reti- 

 form manner ; to each series, moreover, I would assign 

 a certain district of tissue, so that in a longitudinal sec- 

 tion, for example, about half of each band of basis-sub- 

 stance would belong to one, the other half to another 

 series of cells. What is, therefore, regarded as consti- 

 tuting the proper fasciculi of the tendon, would, accord- 

 ing to this view, have really to be split up, and the ten- 

 don portioned out into a great number of nutritive 

 districts (Ern'ahrungs-Territorien). 



