CHAPTER VI 



THE CONNECTIVE TISSUE FRAMEWORK AND THE 

 SKELETAL MUSCLE SYSTEM 



THE FASCIAE OF THE BODY AND MUSCLES OF THE 

 HEAD AND TRUNK 



Although present in every part of the body, the connective 

 tissue is so conspicuously associated with the muscle system that 

 a few facts of interest concerning this universal tissue are here 

 reviewed, before commencing the study of the muscles. 



For muscles it is a veritable framework, as will be seen. In 

 fibrous form it is conspicuous on their surfaces as sheaths, or as 

 separating one from another; and in tendons. As delicate areolar 

 tissue it invades them, bearing tiny vessels and nerves and forming 

 tissue-spaces. 



This it does in all organs wrapping them, supporting their 

 cells, and invading them to convey vessels and nerves. It fills in 

 spaces between organs, and accompanies large vessels to and from 

 them. It connects organs to each other; and everywhere it forms 

 a network of tissue-spaces containing nutritive fluid obtained from 

 the blood-vessels for the cells of the body. . 



If one could imagine that everything in the human body ex- 

 cept connective tissue could be destroyed, the remaining portion 

 would bear the same relation to the body that had been, as a 

 skeleton leaf bears to a fresh green one. 



THE FASCIAE OF THE BODY 



The word fascia is applied to the connective tissue which 

 surrounds various organs or lines cavities. Fascia is found in 

 every part of the body, and we shall study here two varieties, which 

 are associated with the muscles and skin. They are called the 

 deep and the superficial fascia. 



The deep fascia. This is a firm layer of connective tissue 

 with but small spaces between its fibers, therefore it is dense and 



