CARTILAGE AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE. 



101 



In a strict sense indeed the areolar tissue ought to be consid- 

 ered as a mixture of two tissues, one corresponding to each 

 variety of fibres in it. It is characterized by its loose texture 

 and by the fact that the two forms of fibres are present in 

 about equal quantities. In many places a tissue containing 

 the same histological elements as the areolar tissue is found 

 in the form of dense membranes, as for example periosteum 

 and perichondrium. 



White Fibrous Tissue. One of the variiet]e> bt fibres per- 

 vading the matrix of areolar tissue exists "olmSst unmixed' 

 with the other kind in the cords or tendSns whifch miffce'-r-i US- 



FIG. 46. Fro. 46a. 



FIG. 46. White fibrous connective tissue, highly magnified. The nucleated cor- 

 puscles, seen edgewise and appearing spindle-suaped, are seen here and there on 

 the surface of the bundles of fibres. 



FIG. 46a. Yellow elastic tissue, magnified after its fibres have been torn apart. 



cles to the bones. This form, known as the white fibrous con- 

 nective tissue, is also found fairly pure in the ligaments around 

 most joints. Physically it is very flexible but extremely 

 tough and inextensible, so that it will readily bend in any 

 direction but is very hard to break; when fresh it has an 

 opaque white color. 



White fibrous tissue (Fig. 46) consists of a matrix, contain- 

 ing cavities in which cells lie, and pervaded by bundles of 

 extremely fine fibres. These fibres run in each bundle toler- 



