474 
ME. G. V. ELLIS ON THE NATHEE OF THE 
Length of the Muscular Fibres. 
Actual measurement under the microscope of an entire fibre from the wall of the 
bladder has been found to be impossible, in consequence of its fr-equent mterweavmgs 
with its fellows rendering it inseparable. The length will coiTespond,^ it is to be sup- 
posed, with the distance between two of the tendinous points into which the fibres are 
gathered, just as is the case In the voluntary rectus abdominis muscle. Thus the length 
would vary from ^ 0 ^^ to i an inch, as the intervals between the tendons, in the greater 
number of the fibres ; whilst in others it may extend over one tendon, as do some fibres 
before they reach their point of insertion. Considering the length to be deteimined b) 
the tendinous intersections, it must be borne in mind that this will be greatly influenced 
by the contracted or relaxed state of the bladder. 
By parity of reasoning, the length of the fibres of the oesophagus, where like tendi- 
nous points exist, may be estimated. 
End-attachment of the Fibres. 
The fibres of both the voluntary muscular tissue and the involuntary muscular sub- 
stance of the bladder have similar end-attachments, by means of fibrous tissue or tendon, 
as before said. 
A voluntary fibre, when about to end in tendon, is surrounded by fibrous tissue, and 
soon afterwards its component threads or fibrils may be seen to be collected into bimdles 
of varying length and size, which separate slightly as they are continued onwards, like 
the roots of a tree entering the soil. Each bundle of fibrils is invested with a sepaiate 
sheath of fibrous tissue, and the aggregate of all the sheaths forms the httle tendi- 
nous band which is prolonged from each fibre to make up the common tendon of inser- 
tion. It appears as if each fibril or thread in the bundle possessed its proper tendinous 
appendage. The muscular bundles gradually cease to be distinguishable amongst the 
fibrous tissue ; but the central reach further than the chcumferential, so that a fibre 
may appear to have a pointed ending if the surrounding pieces have been broken off in 
the preparation of the microscopic object. In what way the fibrous tissue is united vtith 
the muscular fibre I have not been able to ascertain. 
The involuntary fibres of the bladder end in tendinous tissue, like the fibres of the 
voluntary muscle ; but, from their minuteness and softness, I have expeiienced great diffi* 
culty in isolating one, about to cease, from its fellows. Supposing the end of a fibre to 
be separated, it will be found to terminate as in the voluntary muscle : viz. fibrous tissue 
is arranged around it, like the long hairs in a horse s tail, whilst tiiither on the fibie 
appears to divide into pieces, each having its appertaining sheath of fibrous tissue ; and 
lastly, the muscular tissue ceases to be discernible in the fibrous band connecting it vith 
the common tendon (see Plate XXVII. fig. 8). Examination of the fibres entering a 
tendinous mass does not afford so satisfactory a view of the disposition of the terminal 
parts as in the case of a detached fibre ; but even then they can be observed to dnide, 
