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XXXV. Further Observations on the Distribution of Nerves to the Elementary Fibres of 
Striped Muscle. By Lionel S. Beale, M.B., F.B.S., Professor of Physiology and 
of General and Morbid Anatomy in King's College, London ; Physician to King's 
College Ho^tal. 
Received June 13, — Read June 19, 1862. 
Theee are two views with regard to the peripheral distribution of nerves, which are quite 
incompatible with each other. According to one, it is supposed that nerves end in the 
tissues to which they are distributed, by free extremities ; while the other doctrine is, that 
free ends or extremities do not exist, and it is supposed that the fibre, after perhaps a 
very long and circuitous course, is connected with the nervous centre from which it 
emanated. If this be so, every nerve-cell, central and peripheral, must have at least two 
fibres preceding from it, must be bipolar or multipolar. Both these views cannot pos- 
sibly be true. 
That nerves terminate in ends or free extremities is the opinion of many Continental 
observers, and of late years this view, it may almost be said, has been generally received 
by anatomists. 
The loops and plexuses described by the older observers have since been proved not 
to be terminal. Some of the" fibres forming what appears to be a loop, have been seen 
to divide into finer branches, and these, after having been traced for some distance, become 
very thin, and are gradually lost. This change occurs abruptly in some situations, but 
in others a more gradual attenuation is observed. 
In some tissues pale fibres have been traced a short distance beyond what appears to be 
the end of the dark-bordered fibres. But, it will be shown, the dark-bordered fibres 
differ so very much in diameter, that some of the thinnest are so very fine as scarcely to 
be distinguishable with very high powers, and in parts they very closely resemble some 
of the so-called pale fibres. In young animals the fibres corresponding to the dark-bor- 
dered fibres closely resemble the pale fibres of fully formed animals. In no tissue has 
it been more confidently stated that nerves terminate in free ends than in voluntary 
muscle ; and although some differences of opinion exist as to the precise manner in which 
the nerves end, the existence of these ends is supported by the testimony of so many 
observers, that it is now almost regarded as an anatomical fact which is settled beyond 
question. 
Yet it may be said that, as plexuses, loops, and networks * of very fine fibres in young 
* In using the term network, I do not mean to imply that fine nerve-fibres unite with each other after 
the manner of capillaries, but merely that the bundles of fibres are arranged like networks. The fibres 
composing the bundles do not anastomose. In lace the appearance of a network of fibres is produced ; but 
MDCCCLXII. 6 P 
