FIBROUS SYSTEM. 209 



Of the Tendons. 



Q. Are tendons active or passive in their functions? 



A. They are passive, being moved by the muscles. 



Q. At which extremity of a muscle are they usually 

 found? 



*ft. At that end of the bone where the motion is 

 greatest. 



Q. What are the forms of the tendons? 



t#. Some are flat; most of them are round; some are 

 bifurcated. Their union is exclusively with fibrous mem- 

 branes, never with serous or mucous membranes. 



Q. What is the organization of the tendons? 



#. They are a union of fibres, connected by compact 

 cellular membrane. 



Q. What is the character of their vital forces? 



#. They are very weak. 



Q. What muscles are destitute of tendons? 



#. Those of organic life, and nearly all those of animal 

 life, which form the sphincters. 



Of the Ligaments. 



Q. What is the difference in the attachments of the ten- 

 dons and ligaments ? 



A. One end of a tendon is attached to a muscle, whereas 

 both ends of a ligament are attached to the periosteum. 



Q. How is it that the ligaments execute a double pro- 

 perty ? 



#. By strength they unite the bones, and by flexibility 

 they allow free motions. 



27 





