OF THE LTGAMENTOUS TISSUE GENERALLY. 325 



velopes, sometimes also constitute ties: such are the capsular 

 ligaments, the aponeuroses of insertion, &c. The ligamentous 

 tissue has also been divided, according to its connexions, into 

 the parts subservient to the bones, to the muscles and other 

 organs; and according to its uses, into parts serving for attach- 

 ments or envelopes, or for both uses. 



500. The colour of the ligamentous tissue is white; its as- 

 pect is generally shiny or silky. 



501. Its texture is essentially fibrous, the fibres composing 

 it are very minute filaments, which are parallel or interlaced. 

 In long and slender tendons, the fibres are as it were braided; 

 in the aponeuroses, they are commonly disposed in several 

 layers crossing each other, and sometimes as it were inter- 

 woven. In some parts of this tissue, the fibres are so closely 

 united, that the whole appears homogeneous and not fibrous; 

 such are the cartilaginiform ligaments; but in every other part 

 we may, in dropsical subjects, or in parts which may have 

 been macerated, separate the fibrous bundles from each other, 

 and even the fibres themselves in fine filaments resembling the 

 threads of the silkworm. It is not known if this, be the last 

 point of division, but this is probable. These filaments are 

 white, tenacious, slightly elastic, flexible, and probably full or 

 solid. Fontana and Chaussier consider this fibre as being 

 primitive and particular; Isenflamm considers it as being form- 

 ed of cellular filaments impregnated with gluten and albumen; 

 Mascagni remarks that microscopical inspection seems to de- 

 monstrate that these primitive filaments result from a collec- 

 tion of absorbent vessels surrounded by a membrane formed 

 of these same vessels, and of another resulting from very mi- 

 nute blood-vessels making a very fine net-work. We see that 

 this is still the same idea already mentioned above [394.] 

 These filaments appear to be very condensed cellular tissue; 

 maceration softens and changes them into a mucous or cellu- 

 lar substance. 



The various ligamentous organs are enveloped in sheaths 

 formed of cellular tissue; moreover, those which have distinct 

 bundles contain also some of this tissue in their interstitial 

 spaces; finally, the fibres themselves -are surrounded and bound 



