CONNECTIVE TISSUES 157 



chemical reagents ; the fibres are formed from an inter- 

 cellular matrix, and not from cells directly. 



a. Ligamentum nuchse of ox. Tease finely a Bmall shred 

 in water ; examine with low and high powers : note : 

 i. The branching fibres, with very sharp outlines. 



ii. The tendency of the branches to anastomose with 

 one another and so form networks. 



iii. The tendency of the fibres and branches to curl up 

 at their broken ends. 



Add a drop of acetic acid : note that 



iv. No alteration whatever is produced in the fibres. 



V. No nuclei appear. 



III. Areolar tissue. This is a meshwork composed of both 

 white fibrous and elastic tissues. 



a. Subcutaneous tissue of mammal. Take a freshly killed 

 rat, and snip off a small piece of the loose fibrous tissue 

 which connects the skin with the subjacent parts ; si/retoh 

 it till quite flat with a pair of needles, breathing con- 

 stantly upon it to m,ake it adhere to the slide ; cover, 

 and exam,ine with low amd high powers : note : 



i. The meshwork, composed of white fibrous tissue 

 with wavy outHnes, mingled with which are 

 branched elastic fibres. 



Add acetic acid : note that 



ii. The white fibrous tissue swells up and becomes 

 transparent. 



iii. The elastic tissue is unaltered. 



iv. Connective tissue corpuscles, with nuclei, become 

 visible. 



IV. Adipose tissue. This consists of a fine network of 

 vascular connective tissue, in the meshes of which are 

 at cells, i.e., connective tissue corpuscles in which large 

 quantities of fatty or oily matter have accumulated. 



a. Omentum of rabbit or kitten. Mount a small piece of 

 fresh omentum in normal salt solution ; protect it from 



