164 GENERAL ANATOMY. 



maximus, at the spot where it slides on the trochanter, the 

 ohliquus major of the eye at the place where it is reflected in 

 its pulley, the lateral peroneals where they alter their course 

 to reach the sole of the foot, &c. are all furnished with syno- 

 vial membranes. Generally these membranes are connected 

 with bones or fibrous rings. They are very common about 

 the articulations, because, it is there especially that the tendons 

 are situated. This is seen in the wrist, the knee, &c. We 

 there find the two kinds of which we have spoken. Some of 

 these capsules are confounded with the sub-cutaneous or arti- 

 cular synovial bursae : that of the triceps for instance, is not 

 always isolated, and frequently appears like a continuation of 

 the synovial capsule of the knee. 



207. The adhering face of these membranes, besides be- 

 ing attached to the tendon and the part on which it rubs, is 

 connected, in the space between both the cellular and fatty 

 tissues; it is often attached to fibrous tissue, as for instance, to 

 tendinous or fibro-cartilaginous sheaths, as in places where 

 the tendons slide upon bones, and in which place the peri- 

 osteum is like cartilage. Generally their interior presents a 

 simple cavity, sometimes a compound one, traversed by par- 

 titions, a kind of fibrous prolongations. Fimbriated prolonga- 

 tions are found in some, in that situated behind the calcaneum 

 for instance, we also find there small fatty or cellular masses, 

 but in those only that are formed like vesicles; those that are 

 vaginal contain none. These prolongations have been assimi- 

 lated to excretory ducts. Rosenmuller describes follicles in 

 these membranes I have never seen any there. They con- 

 tain villosities which pour out synovia. 



208. The synovial membranes of the tendons are whitish, 

 semi-transparent, thin and soft, those that are vaginiform par- 

 ticularly, the latter having also external ligamentous sheaths. 

 The vesicular bursar are thicker, and present in some places a 

 fibrous appearance. The texture of these membranes is the 

 same as that of the others of the same genus; their tissue 

 greatly resembles the cellular tissue. The fibres, the fringes 

 and adipose masses, common to all the serous system, are also 

 found here. Serous vessels which become visible in inflam- 



