40 THE LARYNX AND TRACHEA, BY E. VERSON. 



few coils. These structures consist of elongated epithelial cells 

 of various width, with their, for the most part broader, bases 

 attached to the mucous membrane, whilst their pointed extre- 

 mities are directed to the free surface, forming a series of layers 

 around a central tubular cavity. The cavity itself becomes 

 remarkably attenuated at the apex of the bulb, immediately 

 beneath the horny lamina, and is continuous with the above- 

 named fine canal. Whether these structures are to be regarded 

 as the excretory ducts of acinous glands I am unable from 

 transverse sections to decide. 



The epithelial cells of the epiglottidean mucous membrane 

 undergo, when acted upon by certain reagents, a conversion 

 into cup or goblet-cells, similar to those of the mucous mem- 

 branes of other parts. 



The submucous tissue of the anterior surface of the epi- 

 glottis is thicker and looser in texture than the posterior, and 

 its fibres usually pursue two chief directions. 



In the first place there are fasciculi that for the most part 

 run circularly around the cartilage, and between these are lon- 

 gitudinal fibres running towards the base, which gradually 

 preponderate over the former. 



At the point of transition of the epiglottis into the tongue 

 some of these longitudinal fibres radiate into the substance of 

 the latter. The middle fasciculi of these fibres are composed 

 of pure elastic tissue, and raise the mucous membrane into the 

 glosso-epiglottidean folds which at the sides are again mingled 

 with more loosely arranged connective tissue, the fasciculi of 

 which frequently diverge to enclose fat cells. The direction 

 pursued by this band of longitudinal fibres can be easily 

 followed in the deeper layers adjoining the perichondrium 

 of the epiglottis, from which at the same level the hyo-epiglot- 

 tidean ligament takes origin, whilst a little lower it is continuous 

 with the thyro-epiglottidean ligament. A few muscular fibres 

 occur in the deeper layers belonging to the thyro-arytseno- 

 epiglottidean muscle, which extends from the thyroid cartilage 

 towards the borders of the epiglottis, or lies in the aryteno- 

 epiglottidean folds. The submucous tissue of the posterior 

 surface of the epiglottis becomes more abundant and more open 

 in texture at its lower part, so that the loosely attached mucous 



