CELLS AND TISSUES 



243 



between which occurs more or less intercellular substance. 

 The general function of connective tissue is to hold various 

 parts together and to act as a supporting substance. It 

 occurs in bone and in cartilage (gristle), in ligaments and 

 tendons, and in the form of membranes and networks 

 binding together the cells of various organs. 



A B 



FIG. 183. Cartilage. FIG. 184. A, part of a striated 



muscle fiber; B, fibers of unstriated 

 or involuntary muscle. 



Muscular tissue is composed of elongated cells which 

 have the property of contracting strongly when they are 

 stimulated. In striated muscle which composes the great 



FIG. 185. Nerve cell, d, branching dendrites; n, process forming the 

 axis cylinder of a nerve fiber. 



mass of the muscles of our limbs and body the cells are 

 marked with longitudinal striations due to the pressure of 

 very fine thread-like structures called fibrillce. There are 



