FIBROUS TISSUE. 



263 



FIBROUS TISSUE,* telafbrosa, vel ten- 

 dinea ; Germ, das sehnige Gewebe. 



The parts comprised in the fibrous system 

 may with propriety be referred to twd separate 

 and distinct classes. 



I. WHITE FIBROUS ORGANS. Under this 

 head the following structures, distinguished by 

 their whitish colour, their fibrous organization, 

 and their great power of resistance, are in- 

 cluded : , the periosteum and perichondrium ; 

 6, fasciae or muscular aponeuroses ; c, sheaths of 

 the tendons ; d, fibrous coverings of certain 

 organs ; e, ligaments; J\ tendons. 



II. YELLOW ELASTIC FIBROUS ORGANS. 

 There are certain organs, ex. gr. the yellow 

 ligaments (ligamenta sub/lava) of the spine, 

 which resemble those of the former class by 

 their fibrous structure, but which present so 

 many important peculiarities in their texture 

 and properties, that it is necessary to consider 

 them apart from the preceding. All these 

 organs resemble each other by possessing more 

 or less a yellow colour, and a remarkable de- 

 gree of elasticity. 



I. WHITE FIBROUS ORGANS. Organiza- 

 tion. This consists of a union of white 

 or grayish fibres more or less distinct accord- 

 ing to the part in which they are examined ; 

 thus they are very apparent in most of the 

 ligaments, in the fasciae, in the periosteum, and 

 in many tendons, as in those of the obliquus 

 abdominis externus, pectoralis major, &c. In 

 other structures, on the contrary, as in the 

 greater number of tendons, the fibres are so 

 small and so closely united that they cannot be 

 perceived but with difficulty, although they be- 

 come more evident on maceration. In most 

 parts of the body they observe a parallel direc- 

 tion, whilst in other places they pass in an irre- 

 gular manner, so as to cross and interlace with 

 each other, occasionally constituting, as in the 

 instance of the dura mater and of the tendinous 

 centre of the diaphragm, a very intricate net- 

 work of fibres. 



The result of a careful examination proves 

 that the remarkably firm and resisting threads 

 which constitute the basis of the various fibrous 

 organs, are composed of condensed cellular 

 tissue. In certain regions we may perceive 

 the gradual transformation of the cellular tissue 

 into a fibrous organ, as in the formation of the 

 superficial fascia of the abdomen; whilst by 

 prolonged maceration the most dense tendon 

 or ligament may be reduced into a pulpy cellu- 

 lar substance : this opinion is corroborated by 

 Isenflamm, who conceives that this tissue is 

 formed by cellular fibres impregnated with 

 gluten and albumen ; and also by Beclard, who 

 regards it as being composed of cellular texture 

 very much condensed. We may therefore 

 conclude that the ideas of Professor Chaussier, 



* The expression fibrous tissue is by no means 

 well chosen, as it is equally applicable to other and 

 dissimilar organs, such as muscles, nerves, &c. all 

 of which are eminently distinguished by a fibrous 

 structure. It is, however, preferable to retain a 

 received though inaccurate term, than to add to 

 that multitude of names which already so much 

 encumbers the science of anatomy. 



as to the existence of an elementary organic 

 solid, called by him the albugineous fibre, and 

 which is supposed to form the basis of all the 

 ligamentous and tendinous parts of the body, 

 are erroneous. 



The individual fibres are surrounded by pro- 

 cesses of a more lax membrane, which pene- 

 trates between them, and which is rendered 

 particularly apparent by maceration and in cer- 

 tain diseases. The differences that are observed 

 in contrasting the various fibrous organs with 

 each other, a ligament for example with a ten- 

 don, seem principally to result from the larger 

 or smaller proportion of the interfibrous cellu- 

 lar substance and on the degree of its conden- 

 sation. This combination of the common cel- 

 lular tissue with the ligamentous fibres allows 

 the fibrous organs to yield in a very slight de- 

 gree when extended by the elasticity which is 

 thus bestowed, and also slightly to contract on 

 themselves on the removal of the extending 

 force. 



Bloodvessels. The proper fibrous tissue re- 

 ceives but a small quantity of blood, the arteries 

 being minute in size, and principally carrying 

 a colourless fluid. The great vascularity of the 

 dura mater and periosteum is no exception 

 to this remark, because the vessels of these 

 membranes are not proper to them, but to the 

 veins they cover. 



Absorbents. The ravages of disease in the 

 neighbourhood of joints, involving the liga- 

 ments in ulceration ; the sloughing of tendons, 

 the destruction of the periosteum by the pres- 

 sure of aneurism, of the tunica albuginea in 

 scrofulous or malignant fungus of the testis, 

 are abundant proofs of the existence of absor- 

 bent vessels. 



Nerves. According to Monro, nervous fila- 

 ments may be traced to some of the fibrous 

 organs ; and other anatomists, Cruveilhier for 

 instance, speak of nerves being furnished to 

 the joints ; in general, however, none are to be 

 seen ; but as sensibility becomes developed in 

 disease, we must presume that communications 

 do exist with the encephalon. 



Chemical properties. The principal sub- 

 stances that have been detected in the fibrous 

 as in the cellular tissue consist of coagulated 

 albumen and gelatine; a small quantity of 

 mucus and saline matter has also been disco- 

 vered. The effects of desiccation are well 

 known, tendons and ligaments becoming hard, 

 transparent, yellowish, and fragile. This tissue 

 resists maceration for a long time, but at length 

 it is rendered soft and flocculent, so that the 

 fibres can be separated and unravelled ; ulti- 

 mately it is converted into a pulpy and fila- 

 mentous cellular mass. 



Properties. The offices which these organs 

 are designed to fulfil in the economy being, 

 with the exception of the periosteum and its 

 analogous membrane the dura mater, of a me- 

 chanical character, the properties by which 

 they are distinguished are almost entirely of a 

 physical nature. They offer great resistance to 

 rupture, and thus the ligaments are capable of 

 opposing the shocks to which, in the violent 

 movements of the joints, they are so frequently 



