312 ELEMENTS OF HISTOLOGY. [Chap, xxxix. 



oval, with a reticulum in their interior. Each belongs 

 to a spindle-shaped cell, with a small amount of proto- 

 plasm around the nucleus ; it is, in fact, a bipolar gang- 

 lion cell (Max Schultze), of which one process (the 

 inner) passes as a fine varicose fibre into and through 

 the inner molecular layer, to become connected with 

 the outer processes of the ganglion cells (Retzius, 

 Schwalbe), while the other or outer process passes into 

 and through the next outer layer of the retina, 



(6) Tlie outer molecular layer is of exactly 

 the same structure as the inner molecular layer i.e., 

 a fine reticulum of fibrils but is considerably thinner 

 than the latter. 



441. (7) The outer nuclear layer contains, in 

 a honeycombed matrix, a large number of oval nuclei. 

 In the retina of man and mammals these nuclei are 

 always present in considerably greater numbers or 

 layers than those of the inner nuclear layer, but in 

 the amphibian animals the reverse is the case. They 

 are smaller than the nuclei of the inner nuclear layer, 

 and show often a peculiar transversely-ribbed differ- 

 entiation of their contents (Henle, Krause). The 

 honeycombed matrix of this layer is in connection 

 with lateral branch! ets of the radial fibres of Muller, 

 with which it forms a sort of limiting delicate mem- 

 brana propria at the outer surface of the layer ; 

 this is 



442. (8) The limitaus externa. The nuclei of 

 the outer nuclear layer next to this limitans externa are 

 connected, in the retina of man and mammals, with 

 the cones, while the nuclei farther inwards from the 

 limitans externa are connected with the rods. In 

 both instances the connection is established through 

 holes in the limitans externa. Each nucleus of 

 the outer nuclear layer is, in reality, that of a 

 spindle-shaped cell with a minute amount of proto- 

 plasm ; this is prolonged outwards, as the outer part 



