412 THE TISSUES. 



attached at a more or less acute angle to the surfaces of the tendons 

 and aponeuroses, and on the borders of the former. (Fig. 265.) 



Fig. 265. 



Disposition of the muscular fibres at their oblique insertion into the tendon of the gastrocnemius 

 of man. a. A portion of the tendon cut longitudinally. 6. Muscular fibres, with slightly conical or 

 truncated extremities, affixed in small depressions on the inner aspect of the tendon ; -with the sheath 

 of which the perimysium internum (c) is connected. Magnified 350 diameters. (Kolliker.) 



Still, the connection is of the most intimate kind ; the extremities 

 of the fibres being inserted into minute pits in the surface of the 

 tendon, while the perimysia interna are continuous with the areolar 

 sheaths of the fasciculi of the tendon. In muscles which have been 

 boiled, the sacciform blind extremity of the myolemma may be 

 seen. In no case does Kolliker find the tendinous fibres connected 

 with the myolemma merely, as stated by Eeichert. 



The preceding arrangement obtains whenever muscular fibres and 

 tendons meet obliquely (all penniform and semi -pen niform muscles), 

 and whenever tendons of insertion commence as membranous ex- 

 pansions (soleus, gastrocnemius, &c.). And even where tendons 

 and aponeuroses join the muscle in a straight line, there is a greater 

 or less number of fibres which are connected in this way, though 

 most undergo a transition, as described at the commencement of the 

 preceding paragraph. 



II. The tendons are connected, at their distal extremity or inser- 

 tion, with bones, cartilages, fibrous membranes (sclerotica, tendinous 

 fascise), ligaments, and synovial membranes (subcruralis, &c.). The 

 aponeuroses of origin are also connected with the same parts ; and 

 their manner of connection is therefore the same as that of the ten- 

 dons, to be described. 



The tendons are connected with the bones and cartilages, either 

 first, directly; or, secondly, indirectly i.e. through the intervention 

 of the periosteum and the perichondrium. ' 



1. In the former case, the periosteum is entirely wanting where 

 the muscle is inserted, and the tendinous fibres and fasciculi rest at 



