DEVELOPMENT OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE. 9^ 



Ranvier Las found that the cells of the lax subcutaneous con- 

 nective tissue may exhibit a flattened form ; this shows that tlia 

 connective-tissue corpuscles are generally disposed to adopt th& 

 form of thin lamellae when they happen to lie in interfibrillar 

 spaces of considerable size. The evidence as to the homology 

 of the connective-tissue corpuscles with the cells of the endo- 

 thelium is completed by the homology of their formative pro- 

 ducts, products which both are capable of yielding in a certain 

 measure, as we shall see hereafter. Of course I refer only to the- 

 statlonary cells of the connective tissue, to the connective-tissue 

 corpuscles of Vircliow ; my remarks must not be taken to apply 

 In any sense to the mobile cells discovered by v. Recklinghauseyi. 



The connective tissue extends Avherever the vessels extend, 

 and even beyond them. It gives an outer coat to the vessels, 

 it serves to continue their walls into the interstices of the organic- 

 structures, and inasmuch as all the vessels arc interconnected, 

 the vascular system together with the connective tissue consti- 

 tutes an elaborate framework, in which the remaining morpho- 

 loo;Ical elements of the body are embedded. In a word, the- 

 connective tissue Is so extensively distributed throuo;hout the 

 l)ody, that it is impossible to make a cut at any point without 

 damaging the connective tissue, without exposing it at number- 

 less points of the cut surface. 



§ 73. Let us now glance at the conditions regulating its- 

 o-rowth. Observers are all but unanimous in holdinof that for 

 the production of any (quantity of connective tissue a pro- 

 portional quantity of embryonic tissue is required. The latter 

 consists of nucleated particles of naked protoplasm, forming 

 in the aggregate a very soft and elastic substance, of a pale- 

 grey hue. It Is very readily generated wherever the need arises 

 for an extension of the intermediate apparatus of nutrition ;. 

 and it is certain moreover that the required amount of em- 

 bryonal connective tissue Is produced by the intermediate appa- 

 ratus of nutrition itself This is one of its most fundamental 

 properties and functions, and unquestionably plays the most 

 important part in morbid growth. It is only the mode of Its 

 production which is still in urgent need of elucidation. I say 

 '^ still," inasmuch as the importance of the question for our 

 general conception of morbid processes is so great, that it may 

 justly be regarded as the corner-stone of all past and present- 



