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XXIII. Mesearches into the Nature of the Involuntary Muscular Tissue of the Urinary 
Bladder. By Geoege Vinee Ellis, Professor of Anatomy in University College, 
London. Communicated hy Br. Shaepet, Sec. B.8. 
Eeceived November 6, — Bead December 9, 1858. 
Dueing the last few years anatomists have considered the muscular substance of the 
bladder to be composed of elongated contractile fibre-cells, each with a nucleus in it, 
which possess free ends, and overlap at their pointed extremities without being united or 
joined together. This notion of the cell-structure originated with Professor Kollikee ; 
and it has since received very general acceptance *. From the correctness of that 
opinion I am led to dissent by my researches ; and I purpose to show in this communi- 
cation to the Koyal Society, that both the involuntary muscular tissue of the bladder 
and the voluntary muscular substance in other parts of the human body have a like 
composition. 
In a former paper to the Society (in June 1856) f I made the announcement that the 
views now brought forward of the muscular structure of the bladder were applicable to 
the involuntary muscular tissue in general; but as my declaration was received with 
doubt, I determined to withhold its publication until I had been able to repeat my 
microscopical observations. Before this time I hoped to have completed the task 
imposed on myself, but occupation has left me leisure enough to examine thoroughly 
only the muscular structure of the urinary bladder. As my idea is confirmed by the 
result of the second examination of that viscus, I submit this paper with greater con- 
fidence to the consideration of the Society; and I hope to furnish at a future time 
additional researches into the nature of the involuntary muscular tissue in other parts 
of the body. 
After a lengthened inquiry, I am emboldened to entertain opinions at variance with 
the doctrine received at the present day respecting the cell-nature of the muscular 
substance of the urinary bladder, and to conclude that this material is composed of 
engthened fibres with fixed and tendinous end-attachments. According to this view, the 
muscular wall of the bladder and the voluntary muscles will be formed of similar threads 
rofessor Kollikee, in his “ Treatise on the Nature of the Involujitary Muscular Tissue in general ” 
says of that in the urinary bladder, “Die Elemente der Muskeln der Blase sind iiherall die bekannten 
aserze en. n en gelbrothlichen Biindeln, die den Detrusor und Sphincter vesicae, sowie die schiefen 
dieselben ausserst zierlich spindelformig und oft wellenfdrmig auslaufend 
1 -ft. 0-004'" breit, mit charakteristischen Kemen von 0-006— 0-009'" Lange.”— Zeit- 
schrilt fur Wissenschaftliche Zoologie, Erst. Band, S. 64. Leipz. 1848. 
t See the Abstract in the ‘ Proceedings ’ of the Eoyal Society, vol. viii. p. 212, 
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