OF THE ORGANS. 89 



has distinguished the twelve genera of organs, the last com- 

 prising the viscera or compound organs. Since then, several 

 authors, adopting their leading principles, have modified the 

 classifications of the two anatomists.* 



90. In the midst of this variety, the following is a classi- 

 fication or division of the organs in genera, drawn from the 

 ensemble of their anatomical, chemical, physiological and 

 pathological characters. 



The cellular tissue, the principal and general element of or- 

 ganization, should be first; it exists in the whole organic king- 

 dom, enters into all the organs and constitutes the base of all 

 organization. 



This tissue, somewhat modified in its consistence, form, and 

 the proportion of earthy matter it contains, forms several other 

 genera of organs. 



Arranged in membranes, closed on all sides, in whose 

 thickness it has more firmness and less permeability, it con- 

 stitutes the serous and synovial systems. 



It forms the tegumentary tissue, which embraces the skin 

 and mucous membranes, as well as the follicles of these 

 two kinds of membranes, and the organs producing, hairs, 

 teeth, &c. 



It is also the same with the elastic tissue, which is the base 

 of the vascular system, which comprises the arteries, the veins 

 and the lymphatic vessels, and which stilLbelongsto the same 

 order, in approximating to the muscular tissue. 



The glandular system, which is formed by the union of the 

 tegumentary and vascular systems, is also of the same order 

 of organs. 



The ligamentous system comprising very tenacious and re- 

 sisting organs, also results from a modification of the cellular 

 tissue. 



* See almost all the works on anatomy and physiology since 1801, and par- 

 ticularly J. F. Meek el's Handbuch der menschlichcn anatomic, Erster Band. 

 JLllgcmeinc anatomic. Halle and Berlin, 1815. T. Gordon. Ji system of hu- 

 man Anatomy, Vol. I. Edinb. 1815. P. Mascagni. Prodromo della grande 

 anatomia. Fircnze, 1819. C. Meyer. Opuse. cit. 



