ADIPOSE TISSUE. 



297 



Fig. 187. 



form of lobes or lobules, which are also bound together by still 

 larger fasciculi of areolar tissue. The relations of the fat-cells and 

 the intercellular connective tissue are shown 

 by Fig. 187. 



Vessels of Adipose Tissue. Each fat-cell is 

 surrounded by a loop or loops of capillary 

 bloodvessels ; all the capillaries of a single 

 terminal artery looping around the cells of 

 a single lobule. (Fig. 188.) Hassall com- 

 pares such a lobule of cells to a bunch of 

 grapes. The vessels of the lobule do not, 

 however, apparently grow from the cells like 

 the stems of grapes, though there is a gene- 

 ral analogy. No nerves or lymphatics be- 

 long to the adipose tissue, though both may Adipose tissue . a>a . Fat ^ ells . 

 be found traversing it on their way to other 6 > & - Fibres of intercellular areo- 



J lar tissue. 



tissues; 



Peculiarities. Sometimes a minute star-shaped body may be seen 

 in a fat-cell in the human subject. (Fig. 189.) This is generally 



Fig. 188. 



Bloodvessels of fat. 1. Minute flattened fat-lobule in which the vessels only are represented. 3. 

 The terminal artery. 4. The primitive vein; 5. The fat-cells of one border of the globule separately 

 represented. (Magnified 100 diameters.) 2. Plan of the arrangement of the capillaries on the exte- 

 rior of the cells, more highly magnified. 



said to consist of the margarin in a crystalline form. Kolliker, 

 however, regards it as margaric acid. This appearance is more 

 common in the aged. 



