Animal physiology / by John G. M'Kendrick.

  • John Gray McKendrick
Date:
1877
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Animal physiology / by John G. M'Kendrick. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    45/172 page 41
    Yellow Elastic Tissue. 42. General Description.—This is found in the ligaments which join the arches of adjacent vertebrae, in the coats of the larger blood-vessels, in the skin, and in many other structures. It may be conveniently studied in a bit of the ligamentujn 7tuchcs, or ligament in the back of the neck for sustaining the heavy head of large quadrupeds. It consists of strong, coarse, yellow, elastic fibres (fig. 39, d, e), which shew a tendency to split up and to curl up at the extremi- ties. It is not affected by acetic acid. Its chief property is elasticity. Muscular Tissue. 43. The two varieties of fibrous tissue above described pos- sess only various physical properties, and act chiefly in a mechanical way in supporting or binding together, or in giving elasticity to various parts. Muscular tissue, in addi- tion, possesses the property of contracting on the application -of a stimulus. Of contractile fibrous tissue there are two varieties. (i) Involuntary or Non-striated Muscle. 44. General Description,—This is so termed because its action is not subject to the will—that is, we cannot cause contraction in a part formed of it by willing to do so—and because it does not present the striated appearance characteristic of the other variety. It is found between the coats of the membranous viscera, such as the stomach, intestines, and bladder, in the walls of the air-tubes, ducts of glands, &c. It consists of flattened or ribbon- shaped bands (fig. 41, a)^ which are composed of fusiform or spindle-shaped cells, sometimes shewing, on the addition of acetic acid, an elongated nucleus. It contracts slowly when stimulated. Fig. 41.—«, portion of a band of involuntary- muscular fibre ; b, iso- lated cell, shewing nucleus.
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