YELLOW FIBROUS TISSUE. 271 



tinous substance from them. Scherer states that elastic tissue is 

 proteine plus two equivalents of water (Pro-f 2HO). Kobin and 

 Verdeil have, however, found in it a peculiar immediate principle, 

 which they have called elasticine (p. 100). 



Elastic tissue is unaffected by all the weaker acids, and is not dis- 

 solved by the gastric fluid. It resists decomposition longer than any 

 other soft and moist tissue. Its ash constitutes 17 per cent, of it. 



Properties and Uses of Elastic Tissue. 



The yellow fibrous tissue manifests no vital properties, except so 

 far as to secure and maintain its own development. As a con- 

 stituent part of the organism, it manifests only physical properties; 

 of which its extensibility and elasticity are the peculiar and essen- 

 tial ones. It is, however, also flexible, and considerably strong. 

 Mr. Queckett found that the ligamentum nuchse of a giraffe, 6 feet 

 and 2 inches in length during life, contracted at once, on being 

 removed, to 4 feet; and that an immense force was required to 

 stretch it again to 5 feet. 1 The elasticity of this tissue is preserved 

 for almost an unlimited period ; it being revived by the application 

 of water after the fibres have been long kept in a dried state. 



Uses. The yellow fibrous tissue is useful by reason especially of 

 its extensibility and elasticity. Whenever a tissue is required pos- 

 sessing these properties, as in extensible ligaments (the ligamentum 

 nuchse, chordae vocales, &c.) and in the bloodvessels, this is the one 

 found. Its properties, indeed, are very similar to those of gum- 

 elastic, except that it is much stronger. Its use in each particular 

 part or organ will at once be inferred, therefore, from the following 

 account of its distribution in the various organs of the human body. 



Distribution of the Yellow Fibrous Tissue. 



The yellow elastic tissue forms the greater portion of the follow- 

 ing structures: the ligamentum nuchse, the ligamenta subflava, the 

 crico-thyroid and the thyro-hyoid membranes, the thyro-arytenoid 

 ligaments (chordae vocales), the stylo-hyoid ligament (HassalF), the 

 longitudinal bands of the trachea and bronchi, the internal lateral 

 ligament of the lower jaw, and the ligamentum suspensorium penis. 

 It is also found at the base of the epiglottis, and the fascia trans- 

 versalis is composed in great part of it. It combines with the white 



1 The weight of the entire ligament was more than 8 pounds. 



