Part 60

ARTICLE FIRST.

OF THE FORMS OF THE CARTILAGINOUS SYSTEM.

I. Forms of the Cartilages of the Moveable Articulations.

Internal and external surfaces.—Relations of the two corresponding cartilages.—Peculiar characters of these cartilages in each kind of moveable articulations. 238

II. Forms of the Cartilages of the Immoveable Articulations. 241

III. Forms of the Cartilages of the Cavities. 242

ARTICLE SECOND.

ORGANIZATION OF THE CARTILAGINOUS SYSTEM.

I. Texture peculiar to the Cartilaginous System.

Fibres.—Remarkable resistance of the cartilaginous texture to putrefaction, maceration, &c.—Stewing and desiccation of this texture.—Its various alterations. 243

II. Parts common to the Organization of the Cartilaginous Texture.

Cellular texture.—Means of seeing it.—Absence of blood vessels.—White vessels.—Their colour in jaundice. 245

ARTICLE THIRD.

PROPERTIES OF THE CARTILAGINOUS SYSTEM.

I. Physical Properties.

Elasticity.—It appears to be owing to the superabundance of gelatine.—Proofs. 247

II. Properties of Texture.

They are very obscure. 248

III. Vital Properties.

They are inconsiderable, as well as the sympathies. 249

Character of the Vital Properties.—All the phenomena over which they preside have a chronic progress.—General observations upon the reunion of the parts. 250

ARTICLE FOURTH.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE CARTILAGINOUS SYSTEM.

I. State of the Cartilaginous System in the First Age.

Predominance of gelatine in the early periods.—Property which the cartilages then have of becoming red by maceration.—Vascular layers between the cartilage and the bone.—Cause which limits ossification in the cartilage.—Development of the cartilages of the cavities. 252

II. State of the Cartilaginous System in the after Ages.

Different character which the gelatine assumes.—Ossification of the cartilages in old age.—Those of the cavities are the soonest ossified. 255

III. Preternatural Development of the Cartilaginous System.