SOLITARY GLAXDS. BRUNXER'S GLAXDS. 



849 



Still smaller irregularly shaped clusters of these capsules are found scat- 

 tered throughout the intestine, and may be regarded as transitions to the 

 next form of glands named solitary. 



Fig. 594. 



Fig. 594. LYMPHOID OR RETIFORM TISSUE OF 

 THE INTESTINAL Mucous MEMBRANE OF THE 

 SHEEP (from Frey). p 



The figure represents a cross section of a 

 small fragment of the mucous membrane, in- 

 cluding one entire crypt of Lieberkiihn and 

 parts of several others : a, cavity of the 

 tubular glands or crypts ; J, one of the lining 

 epithelial cells ; c, the lymphoid or retiform 

 spaces, of which some are empty, and others 

 occupied by lymph-cells, as at d. 



The solitary glands (glandule soli- 

 tarise) are soft, white, rounded, and 

 slightly prominent bodies, about the 

 size of a millet-seed, which are found 

 scattered over the mucous membrane in every part of the small intestine. 

 They are found on the mesenteric as well as on the free border, between and 

 upon the valvulse conniventes, and are rather more numerous in the lower 

 portion of the bowel. These small glands have no orifice, but consist of 

 closed vesicles or capsules, exactly resembling those forming the clusters of 

 Peyer's glands, having rather thick but easily destructible walls, and usually 



Fig. 595. 



Fig. 595. SOLITARY VESICULAR GLAND OF THE SMALL INTES- 

 TINE (from Ecehm). i? 



The lighter part of the figure represents the elevation pro- 

 duced by the gland ; on this a few villi are seen, and on the 

 surrounding surface of the mucous membrane numerous villi 

 and crypts of Lieberkiihn. 



containing in their interior an opaque, semifluid sub- 

 stance, which abounds in cells and fine granules. The 

 free surface of the capsules, which is slightly elevated 

 when they are full, is beset with the intestinal villi ; 



and, placed around them very irregularly, are seen the open mouths of the 

 crypts of Lieberktihn. 



Brunner's glands are small rounded compound glands, first pointed out by 

 Brunner, which exist in the duodenum, where they are most numerous at 

 the upper end, in general occupying thickly a space of some inches in 

 extent from the pylorus. According to Huschke, a few of them are also 

 found quite at the commencement of the jejunum. They are imbedded in 

 the areolar tunic, and may be exposed by dissecting off the muscular coat 

 from the outside of the intestine. They are true compound racemose 

 glands, consisting of minute lobules, and containing branched ducts, which 

 open upon the inner surface of the intestine. Their secretion is an alkaline 

 mucus, in which there are no formed elements ; and it has no digestive 

 action upon coagulated albumen. (Kolliker.) 



Vessels and Nerves. The branches of the mesenteric artery, having reached the 

 attached border of the intestine, pass round its sides, dividing into numerous rami- 

 fications and frequently anastomosing at its free border. Most of the larger branches 



3 K 



