COXXECTIYE TISSUE. 



Ixxix 



2. Retiform* connective tissue; Eeticular tissue, and Cytogcnous 

 (Kolliker) ; Adenoid tissue (His). In this case the matrix disappears ; 

 neither white nor elastic fibres are developed, but the ramified corpuscles 

 unite together into a reticular or fine trabecular structure (fig. xxxvm.) ; 

 either retaining their nuclei as at a, or losing them and then forming a fine 

 network of simple fibres without nuclei as at b. 



That in both forms the tissue is constructed of ramified corpuscles is shown 

 by its withstanding boiling in water, whilst it readily dissolves in hot alkaline 

 solutions. This form of connective tissue enters into the construction of cer- 

 tain organs and textures, where it serves as a supporting framework to their 

 peculiar elements and their nourishing blood-vessels, and thus becomes a 

 "sustentaeular" tissue (Stutzywebe, Germ.). In this way it forms a trabecular 

 network within the lymphatic glands, containing the lymph or chyle cor- 

 puscles in its meshes (as 



at c). So also it is found Fig. XXXVIII. 



in the solitary and agmi- 

 nated follicular glands 

 of the intestine, the 

 tongue and tonsils ; in 

 the thymus gland ; in 

 the pulp and Malpighian 

 bodies of the spleen, and 

 in the tissue of the in- 

 testinal mucous mem- 

 brane at certain parts ; 

 ia all which situations 

 the meshes contain cor- 

 puscles of similar exter- 

 nal character with those 

 in the lymphatic glands. 

 But, although thus relat- 

 ed to glands and thence 

 named "adenoid "tissue, 

 it exists also as a sus- 

 taining structure in 



the brain and spinal cord, where, with finer branches and closer meshes, it 

 forms an extremely delicate framework supporting the proper nervous 

 substance, and has been called the retiodum (Kolliker). 



3. Homogeneous connective tissue. More consistent than the mucous or 

 jelly-like tissue, and differing also in chemical nature, inasmuch as it 

 appears to be collagenous (i.e., yielding gelatin), and thus more nearly 

 related in substance to the white fibrillar tissue. It contains no fibres nor 

 fibrils, and may be quite transparent and uniform in character, or faintly 

 granular and striated. For the most part this substance occurs in the form 

 of homogeneous membranes ; examples of which are found in the external coat 

 of fine vessels, the hyaloid membrane in the eye, the capsules of the Mal- 

 pighian bodies in the kidney and spleen, the capsules of the solitary and 

 agminated intestinal glands and the lingual and tousillar follicular glands, 

 in the Graafian follicles, and in certain gland-ducts. It must be noted, 

 however, that some homogeneous membranes, as for example, the posterior 

 elastic lamina of the cornea, are of a different nature. 



* I use the term "retiform," not because it signifies more or Jess than "reticular," 

 but because the latter term is not unfrequently applied to areolar tissue. 



Fig. XXXVIII. THIN SECTION FROM THE CORTICAL 

 PART OF A LYMPHATIC GLAND, MAGNIFIED. 



A network of fine trabeculse formed by retiform or 

 adenoid tissue, from the meshes of which the lymph-cor- 

 puscles have been washed out, except at c, where they are 

 left (after His, slightly altered). 



