TO THE ELEMEHTAET El BEES OE STEIPED MUSCLE. 
893 
and nerve-fibres. My observations therefore agree in the main with those of Kolliker^ 
who has stated that at these oval swellings the development of new muscular fibres takes 
place in the fully formed muscle. Upon comparing the above description of these very 
interesting bodies (‘ nerve-tufts ’) with that of Prof. Kollieee, some most important 
difierences will be noticed. After describing the very fine transversely striated muscular 
fibres which exhibit the ‘peculiar swellings with the coiled nerve,’ he says, “in the 
situation of the swelling the finer component fibres of the bundle cling fast together, 
even after the operation of the alkali (strong solution of potash) ; and a certain amount 
of striated granular uniting matter is found between them, which may be partly 
the remains of fine nerve-fibres and capillaries, and some accompanying connective 
tissue.” Prof. Kollikee next states it as his opinion that the fine muscular fibres are 
generated by the division of thicker muscular fibres, and suggests that “ the nerve-tufts 
arise from a simultaneous growth and division of the nerve-fibre belonging to the parent 
muscular fibre, in order that each of the young muscular fibres may obtain its branch of 
nerve.” In my specimens there is no evidence of the very fine muscular fibres being 
formed by the splitting of a coarser fibre. On the contrary, every fine fibre seems to be 
developed from nuclei, and to grow in two directions from the oval swellings. With 
these developing muscular fibres are young nerve-fibres ; and the latter seem to be carried, 
as it were, upon the muscular fibres as their length increases. The oval swelling exhibits 
a most beautiful and elaborate structure, which is not shown in Prof. Kollikee’s 
drawings *. The minute anatomy of these ‘ nerve-tufts ’ will form the subject of 
further investigation. _ Not only do dark-bordered nerve-fibres proceed from the oval 
swelling and pass to their distribution to fibres at a distant part of the muscle, but fine 
fibres may be followed in some cases almost throughout the entire length of those very 
fine muscular fibres, many of which are often equal to the ordinary fibres in length. 
These very fine nerve-fibres divide into branches as they pass parallel to the muscular 
fibre; and transverse branches can be seen crossing the fibre at short intervals (Plate 
XLIV. fig. 30). 
Prom these observations I think it probable that the muscular fibre is supplied with 
nerves in its entire length, and that the branches form a lax network of very fine fibres 
on the surface outside the sarcolemma. As the muscular fibre increases in size, the finest 
branches of the nerve are more difiicult to demonstrate ; and the accumulation of 
connective tissue external to them increases the difficulty of our seeing these very fine 
delicate fibres ; for it is certain that many active nerve-fibres are much finer than is 
generally supposed, certainly less than th of an inch in diameter, 
2. The fine Fibres extend further than Kuhne and Kollikee have traced them. 
With reference to the free terminations of Kuhne, Kollikee and others, it may be 
remarked, — 
1. That as it is admitted that the nerve-fibre undoubtedly extends beyond the last 
* Proceedings, No. 50, fig. 4, p. 78. 
