$8 NORMAL HISTOLOGY. 



The marked difference in general appearance 

 which is seen in different parts composed of con- 

 nective tissue, is largely due to differences in the 

 arrangement of the fibres and bundles, and in the 

 relative proportion of the fibrillated and elastic 

 fibres. 



a. CELLS. 



We consider next the cellular elements of fibrillar 

 connective tissue. These are of two distinct classes. 

 First, those which are essential components of it, 

 preserving a fixed and definite relation to the base- 

 ment substance, and which are quite constant in 

 the different varieties of tissue, in form, size, and 

 number ; these are called fixed connective-tissue cells. 

 Second, small spheroidal cells, the white blood-cells, 

 which, escaping in varying number from the blood- 

 vessels, move about through the interstices of the 

 tissues, and are called wandering cells. These will 

 be studied with the blood. 



Among the fixed connective-tissue cells, by far 

 the greater proportion are more or less flattened, 

 presenting to the eye, when seen from the edge or 

 in cross-section, the appearance of slender spindles. 

 The cell-bodies are for the most part quite trans- 

 parent, often very thin and scale-like, frequently so 

 delicate as to be difficult of recognition, and some- 

 times the protoplasm in the vicinity of the nucleus 

 is distinctly granular. These fixed connective- 

 tissue cells present a great variety of forms, being 



