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154 ANAT03IY.

The outer surface of the saccules is formed by a basement-membrane
which is continuous with the basement-membrane of the skin. Next to
this membrane, within the gland, is situated a layer of polyhedral gran-
ular epithelial cells, each containing a spherical or an oval nucleus.
Resting upon this layer and filling the saccule is a layer of large poly-
hedral cells with spherical nuclei. The cells are largest near the centre
of the saccule, while toward its outlet they become atrophied.
The duct of the gland is a continuation of the outer root-sheath. The
cuboidal cells of the gland undergo active proliferation ; as this process
continues the older cells are pushed toward the duct until they reach the
surface of the skin, where they form sebaceous matter.

AREOLAR TISSUE, TENDONS, AND MUSCLES.
The Areolar Tissue is the third variety of connective tissue, bone
and cartilage representing the other two. It is a soft filamentous sub-
stance, with considerable tenacity and elasticity. It is found immedi-
ately below the skin, extending between and forming the sheaths of the
muscles. It comprises the subcutaneous or superficial fascia and the
reflections into deeper planes known as deep fascia, and connects
mucous and serous membranes with the parts which they line or
invest, in which position it is known as submucous or subserous areolar
tissue. It likewise both separates and encloses all muscles, forming
envelopes for them. It forms the sheaths around the blood-vessels and
deep-seated parts or organs, in which position it is designated interme-
diate areolar tissue, and if it comes in immediate contact with the part it
is called lavedhig areolar tissue. In a word, it is found throughout the
various organs of the body, penetrating between the muscular bundles,
the lobes and lobules of the compound glands, following the vessels
and nerves to their finest divisions. It is continuous with itself, and
can be traced from one part of the body to another without interruption.
Hypodermic injections intended to enter the general circulation are
thrown within this tissue. It serves as the storehouse of fat. Drop-
sical fluids, by reason of the sieve-like arrangement of its meshes, may
be diffused through it from one part of the body to another. It allows
the skin to move freely over adjoining parts, and assists it in reassuming
the normal position after having been drawn in any one direction.

Fascia.
Fascia, one of the divisions of areolar tissue, is composed of a multi-
tude of soft, fine, and somewhat elastic fibres, transparent in appearance,
but intermixed with numerous delicate colorless membranous laminae.
These fibres and laminse are interwoven in every imaginable direction,
forming net-like meshes of different sizes. These interspaces communi-
cate freely with each other, many of them being filled witli fat, which