COCCYGEAL VASCULAR PLEXUS. 



295 



with those of the previous observers. He finds that the 

 stroma of the so-called coccygeal glands is formed of a tough, 

 fibrous, richly nucleated connective tissue, traversed by bundles 

 of smooth muscles, and containing rounded and elongated 

 tubes, the walls of which are principally composed of fibres of 

 connective tissue, running in a longitudinal direction, with, at 

 most, a few isolated muscle cells distributed amongst them. 

 These tubes become filled with polygonal cells, which, in con- 

 centric series of several layers, surround one or more centrally 

 situated capillaries, or, less frequently, fine arteries or veins. 

 These vessels are for the most part of normal calibre, and are 

 rarely dilated ; but when they are so, it is probably the result 

 of manipulation. 



My own view is that the coccygeal gland is a plexus of 



Fig. 56. 



Fig. 56, A. Cellular vascular sheath, from the coccygeal plexus, a, 

 connective tissue with scattered cells and nuclei ; b, round and polygo- 

 nal cells lying" immediately upon ths capillary wall c. 



B. A capillary from tha coccygeal plexus, with a vascular sheath very 

 rich in cells. References as in A. 



vessels which are sometimes of equal width, and sometimes 

 slightly dilated, or varicose, with lateral dilatations, which lie 

 in a stroma of connective tissue, the numerous round, oval, 

 and fusiform cells of which are certainly only in very small 

 proportion muscular. The greater number of these vascular 

 sacs are found in the capillaries and veins, and seldom in the 



