WHITE FIBEOUS TISSUE. 283 



scribed in the following chapter. Cells appear to perform an im- 

 portant part in the development of the latter tissue, as will be seen. 

 But, for the present, we may adopt the view which regards the 

 elastic fibres as developed from cells, while the collagenous element, 

 or white fibrous tissue, is at first formed directly from the plasma. 



The growth of white fibrous tissue is secured by a gradual in- 

 crease of the bundles before described; and this occurs probably 

 from the plasma directly each fasciculus assimilating to itself the 

 amount required. 



The reparation of this tissue, if inflammation occurs, is imperfect; 

 e. g. if a portion of a tendon be removed, or if the ends of a divided 

 tendon be separated (as in operations for club-foot), the new tissue 

 is similar to white fibrous tissue ; but is developed from cells, and 

 is a condensed form of areolar tissue, rather. If inflammation does 

 not occur, the exuded plasma is directly (i. e. without the interme- 

 diation of cells), converted into a collagenous tissue precisely iden- 

 tical with the original development. 



Pathological States and New Formations of the White Fibrous Tissue, 



1. It is difficult to distinguish between a new formation and a 

 hypertrophy of the white fibrous tissue, if the change occurs in a 

 part or organ in which this tissue naturally exists. A hypertrophy, 

 so called, of the capsule of Glisson produces the granular liver, or 

 cirrhosis ; and hypertrophy of the collagenous tissue between the 

 tubes in the kidney, produces the granular kidney, or one form of 

 Bright's disease. In both these cases, the parenchymal substance 

 is diminished by the pressure consequent on the increase of this 

 interstitial element. 



2. This tissue is also, like all others, liable to atrophy, if its usual 

 supply of blood be cut off; as by pressure upon the vessels by 

 tumors, aneurisms, &c. 



3. Pathological new formations of this tissue are very common, 

 and constitute many of the pathological epigeneses. Fibroid tumors 

 of the uterus are often formed of it without any admixture of the 

 elastic element. Condylomata, warts, and vegetations on the skin 

 and the mucous and serous membranes, are essentially new forma- 

 tions of collagenous tissue, usually covered by a distinct epithelium 

 (p. 247). The walls of cysts are formed of white fibrous tissue, as 

 well as most of the substance of nasal, laryngeal, and uterine 

 polypi; though in all these cases, the loose arrangement of the fibres 

 may rather entitle it to the name of areolar tissue. The same re- 

 mark may also be extended to nasvi materni. 



Sarcomatous tumors are formed in great part of this tissue. The 

 keloides is also a development of it in the corium of the skin, giving 



