OF THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF CARTILAGES. 349 



which grew on the cicatrix of a burn, having died, the bones 

 of the skull immediately under this horn were found to be 

 transformed into cartilages. Laennec saw a cartilaginous trans- 

 formation of the mucous membrane of the urethra. I have 

 observed the same thing in the vagina, in a case of prolapsus 

 uteri, and in the prepuce, in a case of congenital phymosis, 

 in an old man. I am at the same time of opinion that these 

 three cases belong rather to the desmo-cartilaginous produc- 

 tions. 



552. Alterations* of the cartilages are rare and most com- 

 monly consecutive. They resist for a very long time the 

 destructive action of aneurismal tumours, and the propagation 

 of diseases of the neighbouring parts. The alterations to 

 which the} 7 are subject, and the reparation of their injuries, 

 are somewhat different in the various kinds of this tissue. 



SECTION II. 



OF THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF CARTILAGES. 



553. The cartilages may be divided into three principal 

 kinds, with respect to their form, connexions, texture, pro- 

 perties and functions. 



ARTICLE I. 

 A. OF THE ARTICULAR CARTILAGES. 



554. The diarthrodial articular cartilagest are flat and 

 broad cartilaginous laminae, which tip or invest the surfaces 

 of the bones in the moveable articulations. These laminae 



* Doerner, praeside Autenrieth, de Gravioribus quibusdam cartilaginum 

 mutationibus. Tubing. 1798. 



|W. Hunter, Of the structure and diseases of articulating cartilages; in 

 Philos. trans. 1743. Delasone, sur V organisation dcs os ; mem. de Facad. des 

 sd. Paris, 1752. 



