ACINOUS GLANDS OF THE LARYNX. 41 



membrane in the portion corresponding to the inferior pointed 

 extremity of the cartilage projects like a cushion. The fat cells 

 and acinous glands are here very numerous, forming together 

 masses of about one millimeter in diameter, with the excretory 

 ducts running in a tolerably straight direction to the surface of 

 the membrane. At the free extremity of the epiglottis the 

 acinous glands are either only sparingly present or are alto- 

 gether absent, but towards the lower part they occur in small 

 groups arranged on either side of the middle line, and im- 

 bedded in the fossae of the cartilage. Towards the epiglotti- 

 dean cushion below, the groups become more frequent, of larger 

 size, and their excretory ducts run in a straight direction 

 through the epithelium ; whilst those of the upper part are only 

 straight till they reach the epithelium, when they turn at right 

 angles to their former course, and sooner or later again bend to 

 enter the epithelial coat, in order as I imagine, though I have 

 been unable to demonstrate the direct continuity of the parts 

 to terminate in the already-described bulb-like organs. 



The acinous glands of the larynx are everywhere com- 

 posed of a structureless membrane, lined by an epithelium, the 

 cells of which have the form of truncated cones, and are at- 

 tached by their broader extremities. The excretory ducts are 

 lined by a layer of columnar epithelium, which, sometimes on 

 the epiglottidean cushion, and on the lower surface of the 

 false vocal cords, becomes ciliated. These excretory ducts are 

 especially characterized by their large size, having a diameter 

 in some instances of as much as 0'3 of a millimeter. The 

 structureless membrane of the ducts may not unfrequently be 

 obtained in an isolated condition, when large stellate connective- 

 tissue corpuscles make their appearance attached to its outer 

 surface, and with their long processes coiling spirally around it. 



The ducts of the acinous glands on the posterior surface of the 

 epiglottis of the Dog are sometimes lined by a double layer of cuboid 



cells. 



The fasciculi of the submucous tissue of the arytseno- 

 epiglottidean folds pursue the same direction as the folds 

 themselves, and consequently invest the fasciculi of the thyro- 

 arytseno-epiglottidean muscle, which, curving round the cartilago 



