444 



MANUAL OF HISTOLOGY. 



Fig. 427. Cortical portion of the 

 human suprarenal body in ver- 

 tical section, a, small, and b, 

 larger gland cylinders; c, cap- 

 sule. 



Further inwards still the cavities of the cortical portion "become shorter 

 and shorter, assuming, consequently, a more 

 rounded form. From this point on there 

 commences, in the strong and but slightly 

 altered septa of connective-tissue, a rapid 

 fibrillation, the fibres converging so that the 

 further we advance towards the cen'tre of the 

 organ, the smaller do the interstices become. 

 In the nodal points of this network we find 

 nuclei, the general arrangement of parts re- 

 sembling in many respects what we have 

 already met with in lymphoid reticular con- 

 nective substance (Joesten). 



The interstices in the cortex just alluded 

 to contain a dark viscid mass, which is found, 

 on closer inspection, to be made up of naked 

 cells containing albuminous granules, and. not 

 unfrequently, numerous fatty molecules also 

 (fig. 428, a ; 429, d). Within the soft bodies 

 of the former, whose diameter is about - 0135 

 or 0*0174 mm., large nuclei may be observed; 

 measuring from 0-0090 to 0*0056 mm. The 

 cells situated within the dark boundary zone 

 already alluded to, contain large quantities of brown pigmentary granules. 

 While the more internal and smaller meshes 

 enclose but a few cells, the elongated and radiating 

 compartments contain multitudes of them (fig. 

 428). The latter cavities are, besides, traversed 

 by minute fibrous bands, forming a reticulum. 



As to a membrana propria, eacb agglomera- 

 tion of cells was formerly supposed to be en- 

 veloped in one, in the same manner as a glandular 

 crypt (Eclcer) ; but this covering certainly does 

 not exist in our opinion. 



Elucidation of the structure of the delicate 

 medullai^y substance is attended with great 

 difficulties. 



We see, however, that at the inner border of 

 the cortical portion the fine fibres of the frame- 

 work, though very closely arranged, approach 

 each other still more, and are inserted eventually 

 into processes of a mass of tough connective- 

 tissue, which occupies the centre of the organ en- 

 veloping the stronger blood-vessels, and especially 

 the large veins. 



Enclosed within this fine sustentacular sub- 

 stance of the medullary portion of the organ, 

 a number of large oval cavities are to be seen. 

 These exceed in size those of the cortex, but 

 do not possess the same radiating arrangement ; 

 they lie rather with their broad surfaces towards the centre and surface 

 of the organ. In man these medullary cavities appear to be generally 

 smaller and rounder than in other animals. 



Fig. 4?8. Cortical portion of 

 human suprarenal body un- 

 der high magnifying powei. 

 a, gland cylinders; 6, inter- 

 stitial connective-tissue. 



