RETROGRESSIVE TISSUE CHANGES. 



209 



differentiable from fatty infiltration. The nucleus is usually not 

 involved ni the beginning, but as the degeneration progresses 

 in the cytoplasm, the chromatin network disappears and the 

 entire nuclear structure finally becomes disintegrated, producing 

 the so-called granule cell. The degeneration may be continuous 

 throughout a tissue or it may be more or less patchy. The ex- 

 tent of involvement of the cells in an affected area is usually 

 unequal, some cells being only slightly aiTected, others contain- 

 ing considerable fat, and still others being entirely converted 

 into fat. 



Fig. 113.- 



-Fatty Degeneration of the Liver, showing the early stag:e of the process 

 around the central vi-in. 



Tissue Affected — Glandular tissue, particularly the liver, 

 is probaljly most prone to become affected with pathologic fatty 

 changes, or fatty degeneration. Muscular tissue is quite subject 

 to fatty degeneration, especially heart muscle. Epithelium other 

 than glandular, nervous and connective tissues, are not exempt 

 from this process. Tumors are occasionally observed to be 

 afifected with pathologic fatty changes. Necrotic tissue fre- 

 quentlv becomes a fatty mass or an entire cadaver may be con- 



