DEC 22 i8i;o 



(From the Physiological Laboratory, University College, London.) 



The Comparative Histology of the Suprarenal Capsules. 



By 

 Swale Yinceut, M.B, Lond., 



British Medical Association Research Scholar. 



(Continuation.) 



VIII. Aves. 



Very little need be said about the gross anatomy of the suprarenal 

 capsules in birds. They are bright ochre -yellow bodies, in very close 

 contact with the reproductive glands, so that with them they appear to 

 form almost one organ. This intimate relationship (which is seen also 

 in the Reptilia), is of peculiar significance as bearing upon the deve- 

 lopment of the cortical portion of the organ. The glands are also in 

 close connection with the vena cava and the aorta. Large nerve- 

 ganglia are found near the surface of the organ. The nerve -supply 

 is derived from the ovarian or spermatic plexus. 



In birds the cortex and the medulla of the suprarenal capsules 

 are more intimately mixed than in any other animals. The medulla 

 is decidedly more abundant in proportion to the cortex than in any 

 other class. ^) The medullary columns are distributed fairly uniformly 

 throughout the gland. The medullary cells have every appearance of 

 having been pushed in, as it were, between the cortical columns, and 

 in Oallus hanJciva this appearance is very marked, as there is an 

 almost complete layer of medullary cells surrounding the outside of 



^) It is interesting to note in this relation that birds have a very high 

 blood -pressure. 



Internationale Monatsschrift für Anat. u. Phys. XV. 20 



