334 GENERAL ANATOMY. 



bones, expand and are confounded with the envelopes of the 

 muscles. 



The tendons are surrounded with common and lax cellular 

 tissue, or with mucilaginous bursae, according to the extent of 

 the sliding they experience. 



Some are kept in their respective places by rings or sheaths. 



The colour of the tendons is white, shining, bordering on a 

 green, silky or velvety. 



The fibrous tissue which composes them contains in its in- 

 terstices, in the largest at least, some cellular tissue, and small 

 sanguineous vessels. 



Some tendons have a fibro-cartilaginous texture; they are 

 those which rub against the bones. They even, in time, be- 

 come bony at these points. 



Their essential properties are inextensibility and force of 

 cohesion, which renders them well calculated to transmit to 

 the bones the action of the muscles, the only function they 

 have to perform. 



They are seldom altered; puncture induces in them an in- 

 dolent swelling which is slowly resolved. 



ARTICLE III. 

 OP THE LIGAMENTOUS ENVELOPES. 



517. The ligamentous membranes furnish to certain parts, 

 envelopes analogous to those that the cellular tissue forms 

 about certain other organs. These membranes are the folio wing: 



A. OP THE ENVELOPES OP THE MUSCLES. 



518. The envelopes of the muscles, or the enveloping 

 aponeuroses also furnish, in some places, insertions to the mus- 

 cular fibres; they are of two kinds, some surround the muscles 

 of the members, others invest those of the parietes of the trunk. 



519. The enveloping aponeuroses of the limbs, fasciae 

 muscularesf are ligamentous membranes which surround the 



* Ad. Murray, de Fastix hta. Upsal, 1774. 



