Volume 1

The microscopic anatomy of the human body, in health and disease. Illustrated with numerous drawings in colour / By Arthur Hill Hassall, M.B.

  • Hassall, Arthur Hill, 1817-1894.
Date:
1849
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The microscopic anatomy of the human body, in health and disease. Illustrated with numerous drawings in colour / By Arthur Hill Hassall, M.B. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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    them is obtained in the neighbourhood of the zona ciliaris (Plate LXVIII. Jig. 7.) Granular nuclei of large size are seen on the walls of the cellatcd spaces; these are most probably concerned in the secretion of the vitreous humour. That these several cellated spaces communicate with each other, seems proved by the fact that if the hyaloid membrane be ruptured, the whole of the vitreous humour will gradually escape through the aperture. A layer of cells of large size and of such extreme trans- parency as to be discovered only with great difficulty, are described in the “ Physiological Anatomy” as situated on the hyaloid membrane between it and the retina : these have not fallen under the observation of the writer. The vitreous body, then, consists of the hyaloid membrane, cellated fibrous structure, the zone of Zinn, and of the vitreous humour. Through the centre of this body a branch of the central artery of the retina passes in early life, destined for the posterior part of the capsule of the lens. Crystalline Lens. The crystalline lens is composed of capsule and body. The capsule is formed of a thin lamella of elastic tissue, much thicker before than behind, but in all essential par- ticulars similar to the posterior elastic lamina of the cornea. The manner in which it is attached to the hyaloid membrane has been already pointed out; it now remains to observe that the cellated fibres of the vitreous body are also inserted into its posterior part. It is perfectly closed on all sides, so that in the adult condition of the eye neither vessels nor nerves pass through it to the lens. The body of the lens, transparent and jelly-like as it ap- peal’s to the unaided sight, is yet full of elaborate and elegant structure. It consists of very many layers or concentric lamella} of flattened fibres, which radiate from the centre and are disposed in a parallel manner with reference to each other; the fibres, however, have a more complicated ar- rangement than this, as will be evident from what follows.