384 
MR. SKEY ON MUSCULAR FIBRE. 
portion prolonged from it, and to communicate the stimulus necessary to their re- 
moval. 
To this function the heart again forms a striking exception. Its contractions are 
impetuous, and throughout each division of the organ simultaneous. In the heart 
therefore we find the modified but separate fibre of animal life, with all the physical 
characters indicating great contractile power, demanded for the important function 
it is known to possess. 
Charterhouse Square, 
January 10, 1837. 
Explanation of the Plates. 
PLATE XVII. 
Fig. 1 . a. An unbroken muscular fibre of animal life, with continuous striae, mag- 
nified about 600 times, linear measurement. 
c. Its tubular extremity. 
h. A similar fibre broken into fibrillae, exhibiting the interrupted striae, and 
presenting a polygonal appearance. 
Fig. 2. a h. Muscular fibres of animal life, from the Cockchafer. 
Fig. 3. A muscular fibre separated at its extremity into its component filaments. 
a, a, a. Striae continuous across the unbroken fibre. 
b, b. The fibre broken into fibrillae, forming the interrupted striae. 
c, c. Muscular filaments forming a tasselled extremity to the fibre. 
d, d. Filaments retaining slight marking of the striae. 
Fig. 4. Circular striae varying in size on the same fibre. 
Fig. 5. a, a. Filaments ; globules of blood floating behind them, showing their re- 
lative diameters. 
Fig. 6. Globules magnified 600 times. 
PLATE XVIII. 
Fig. 1. a. A tube cut open longitudinally, magnified 400 times, linear. 
b. General arrangement of fibres, magnified 200 times, linear. 
Fig. 2. Muscular fibre of organic life from the trachea of a Horse, showing the 
tubular character of the filaments. 
Fig. 3. Muscular fibre of organic life (Jejunum). 
Fig. 4. a and b. Tendon; tendon of Pectoralis major muscle. 
