328 CSENERAL ANATOMY. 



old persons, it has not a very great predisposition to ossifica- 

 tion. The tendons are seldom ossified except where they rub, 

 and where they have a fibro-cartilaginous texture, and at their 

 extremity where inserted into the bones. The rare occurrence 

 of senile ossification of the tendons is so much the more re- 

 markable, as in various animals, as certain birds, or as the in- 

 sects and the Crustacea?, ossification or an analogous indura- 

 tion always occurs in the regular development of these parts. 



506. The different parts of the fibrous system, although 

 sufficiently analogous to form one kind of organs, they are not, 

 however, identical; the texture of the tendons is less close than 

 that of the ligaments, that of the cartilaginiform ligaments is 

 so compact, that it appears almost homogeneous. The chemi- 

 cal composition of all these parts is nearly the same; the ten- 

 dons yield, however, much more easily to the dissolving action 

 of boiling water, than the other ligamentous parts. 



507. The ligamentous tissue, when divided, torn or lace- 

 rated, reunites: this we see occurring in the ligaments after 

 luxations. The tendo achilli, or some other large tendon be- 

 ing lacerated, if the ends are kept motionless and in contact, 

 there occurs at first an agglutination between them, then an 

 organic reunion which, more extensible at first than the ten- 

 don, acquires in time its force of cohesion, or its tenacity and 

 its almost inextensible character. There takes place between 

 the extremities of divided muscles, and sometimes after the 

 fractures of bones, fibrous reunions. 



508. The accidental productions of the ligamentous tissue 

 is pretty frequent, and presents itself under several forms. We 

 find membranes of this kind around certain cysts jivhich are, 

 however, seldom altogether enveloped by it. Some solid tu- 

 mours have also envelopes of the same kind. Preternatural 

 joints have also fibrous capsules more or less distinct. We 

 sometimes find fibrous bands in the serous membranes, and 

 especially in the pleura. 



The isolated fibrous or ligamentous bodies have been very 

 anciently observed, but confounded with schirrhus ; M. Cham- 

 bon has described them under the name of scleromes. Walter 

 and Baillie were acquainted with them. Bichat, and after him 



