436 



GENERAL ANATOMY. 



Supernumerary muscles, and others divided into several 

 distinct parts, are often found; muscles united which ordina- 

 rily are separate; others, longer or shorter than is natural, 

 which changes their attachments and modifies their functions; 

 all these varieties are original or primitive. 



The diminution or augmentation of the volume of the mus- 

 cles are, on the contrary, owing generally to accidental causes. 

 Repose and paralysis diminishes their size, exercise augments 

 it. 



Muscular ruptures* happen, either by the action of the an- 

 tagonist muscles, or by another power which distends a relaxed 

 muscle, or by the action of the ruptured muscle itself; in this 

 last case, the rupture most commonly occurs at the union of 

 the tendinous or aponeurotic parts with the fleshy fibres, a 

 small number only of which are torn. In case of rupture, 

 there occurs a separation, attended with noise and pain, and 

 more or less extensive and deep, and an effusion of blood more 

 or less abundant in the solution of continuity and in the sur- 

 rounding cellular tissue. The interior muscles, and especially 

 the heart, are sometimes ruptured by their contraction. 



The displacement! of the muscles, admitted by Pouteau, 

 Portal, and other pathologists, is scarcely possible, unless the 

 enveloping aponeurosis be severed. 



699. The muscles present many alterations of colour, 

 consistency, and cohesion. 



In rheumatism, a gelatiniform liquid is sometimes found on 

 the surface, in the interior, and in the thickness of the cellu- 

 lar sheaths. 



In cases of long standing paralysis, the muscles are emaci- 

 ated, white, and sometimes very fat. We have already seen 

 above, (168) that the transformation of the muscles into fat, 

 was rather apparent than real. It results from the paleness oc- 

 casioned by the atrophy of the muscle, conjointly with the 

 accumulation of fat between the fasciculi of fibres. 



* J. Sedillot, memoire sur la rupture musculaire, in M^m. et prix de la 

 Soc. de med. de Paris 1817. 



j- J. Hansbeand, Diss. luxationis sic dictse muscularis refutationem aistens, 

 Berol. 1814. 



