The Veterinary Record and Transactions of the Veterinary Medical Association Volume II.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1846 Excerpt: ... The attachment of muscular fibre to tendon is by the junction of each fibrillae of the disc to a corresponding portion of tendinous tissue, as represented in the annexed cut. Attachment of tendon to an elementary fibre, from the skate. Development.--Muscle, in its earliest stage of development. consists of a series of nucleated cells arranged in linear series, which afterwards unite to form the elementary fibre. While this union of the cells is going on, a deposition of contractile material gradually takes place within them, in granules, disposed in the two directions beforementioned, being of the same size as the sarcous elements of the perfect muscle, and, by their co-aptation, causing the transverse stripes to be of the same width. The longitudinal lines usually become well defined before the transverse, and, when both are strongly marked, the nuclei of the cells disappear from view. The growth of the muscles takes place by increase in the bulk of the elementary fibres, and not their number. Mr. Bowman believes that the number of the fibres remains the same through life, and that the square or muscular build of an individual is determined by the mould in which he was originally cast. Muscles are very largely supplied with bloodvessels, which divide and subdivide in their substance until the ultimate recognisable capillary tubes correspond with the fibres of the muscles, along the intervals of which they lie, sending cross vessels tranSversely under or over the fibre. The length of the longitudinal vessel seldom exceeds one-twentieth of an inch, while the transverse one is much shorter. This cnt shews that the ultimate ramifications of the artery a ntinuous with the venous capillaries. Nerves.--The muscles of all the larger animals have nerves distributed...