WHITE FIBROUS TISSUE. 



275 



for which the finer fibres may be mistaken. They are, however, at 

 once distinguished by their unchangeableness under the action of 

 acetic acid and dilute solutions of the alkaline carbonates. 



CHAPTEK III. 



WHITE FIBEOUS (COLLAGENOUS) TISSUE. 



MUCH confusion has resulted from the blending together by au- 

 thors, in their descriptions, of the white and the yellow fibrous 

 tissues, under the name of connective tissue. Kolliker includes under 

 the latter designation the white fibrous tissue on the one hand, and 

 on the other, as mixed with it, elastic fibres, fat-cells, cartilage-cells, 

 and pigment-cells of different kinds. Lehmann regards connective 

 tissue and areolar tissue as being the same, and both as being iden- 

 tical with the white fibrous tissue; the areolar tissue being its amor- 

 phous (or loose KolliJcer), and the connective tissue the formed or 

 solid variety. 



True connective tissue, or that which connects together different 

 parts and organs, is almost invariably found to consist of two or 

 more distinct tissues interwoven, of which the white fibrous tissue 

 is usually merely the most abundant. White fibrous tissue alone, 

 therefore, cannot properly be termed connective tissue, any more 

 than the yellow fibrous which is almost always blended with it. 



We shall therefore adhere to both fact 

 and simplicity if we describe the white 

 fibrous tissue under this name as a sim- 

 ple tissue ; and speak of its union with 

 the yellow fibrous tissue in the areolar 

 tissue (and which is usually the con- 

 nective tissue) further on. 



The white fibrous tissue is so named 

 from its appearing under the microscope 

 to consist of very fine fibres (Fig. 175), 

 4T7&<Tu to 24^0(7 of an inch in diameter, 

 a pale color, homogeneous appearance, 



r jr* rr White fibrous tissue from ligament. 



and non-striated. (Kolliker.) These ap- (Magnified 65 diameters.) 



Fig. 175. 



