554 



THE SKIN. 



(1) Subcutaneous Tissue. The loose connective-tissue bundles, 

 traversing the subcutaneous tissue, are prolongations of the sub- 

 jacent membraneous formations, the fasciae of the muscles, the 

 aponeuroses, and the periosteum. The skin is firmly attached by 

 means of short and coarse bundles, at the extensor surfaces of the 

 articulations, in the groins, in the palms of the hands, and the 



soles of the feet. Here a vary- 

 ing number of single or multi- 

 locular spaces, containing a 

 sero-mucous fluid, are usually 

 found, the so - called lursm 

 mucosce, which are inclosed 

 by flat layers of fibrous con- 

 nective tissue and lined with 

 endothelia. In. other localities, 

 such as the eyelids, the upper 

 portions of the auricle of the 

 ear, the penis, and the scrotum, 

 the attachment of the skin to 

 the subjacent fasciae is by loose, 

 delicate connective tissue, con- 

 taining no fat-globules. All 

 other fibrous tracts of the sub- 

 cutaneous tissue are more ob- 

 lique in their course, and so 

 extensible as to admit of a vary- 

 ing degree of pliability of the 

 skin ; they inclose rhomboidal 

 spaces, which contain more or 

 less numerous fat -globules. 

 The latter are grouped in lob- 

 ules, bounded by a delicate fibrous connective tissue, with a com- 

 paratively abundant vascular supply. This structure bears the 

 name panniculus adiposus. (See Fig. 230.) 



(2) The derma or cutis is composed of dense interlacing bun- 

 dles of fibrous connective tissue. Between the bundles we see a 

 continuous branching bioplasson layer, with a varying number 

 of nuclei, and sometimes with plastids, most of which are con- 

 nected with the rest of the free bioplasson. The bundles appear 

 very coarse in the lower, so-called reticular, portion, and are 

 bounded by distinct elastic layers or elastic fibrillae. These are 

 less marked as the bundles become finer toward the papillae, till in 



FIG. 230. SUBCUTANEOUS FAT-TIS- 

 SUE, THE FAT HAVING BEEN Ex- 

 TRACTED BY TURPENTINE. 



B, bundle of fibrous connective tissue, car- 

 rying injected blood-vessels; C, capsule of 

 fat-globules, with oblong nuclei. Magnified 

 500 diameters. 



