Researches, tending to prove the non-vascularity and the peculiar uniform mode of organization and nutrition of certain animal tissues : viz. articular cartilage, and the cartilage of the different classes of fibro-cartilage, the cornea, the crystalline lens, and the vitreous humour, and the epidermoid appendages / by Joseph Toynbee.

  • Toynbee, Joseph, 1815-1866.
Date:
1841
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Researches, tending to prove the non-vascularity and the peculiar uniform mode of organization and nutrition of certain animal tissues : viz. articular cartilage, and the cartilage of the different classes of fibro-cartilage, the cornea, the crystalline lens, and the vitreous humour, and the epidermoid appendages / by Joseph Toynbee. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    and flattened, and having their long diameters parallel to the free surface. These canals contain a transparent fluid, which is seen to ooze from them after a section. It is most probable that the uninjected vessels observed in sections of cartilage by Meckel, Bichat, and others, were these canals and sinuses. Into the substance of healthy articular cartilages, I have never been able to trace blood-vessels, and my researches induce me to believe that they do not possess any. Previous to proceeding with my investigations upon this subject, 1 will give the statements of preceding inquirers with respect to the vascularity of articular cartilage. Sir B. Brodie, in speaking of articular cartilage, states, “ Here is a morbid alter- ation of structure, the occurrence of which seems to indicate that there must be such a vascular apparatus entering into the formation of cartilage, as enables new materials to be deposited and old materials to be absorbed Bichat recognizes ‘^a vascular system in cartilages, but he was ignorant of the nature of the white fluids which circulate in them'|~.” M. Beclard. “ These cartilages (the articular) have no vessels;};.” M. Boyer. Leurs (les cartilages articulaires) vaisseaux sanguins sont si petits, qu’il est impossible de les suivre dans leur 6paisseur; ces vaisseaux viennent d’un reseau vasculaire qui entoure la partie de I’os comprise entre I’attache du ligament capsulaire, et le bord du cartilage, vers lequel ils s’avancent; ils s’enfoncent entre I’os et le cartilage dans l’6paisseur duquel ils envoient sans doute un grand nombre des ramifications M. Cruveilhier. “ The diarthrodial cartilages do not present any trace of organ- ization jj.” M. Meckel. “ Cartilages do not receive vessels which carry red blood, although in cutting them, distinct vessels are frequently observed in their substance M. Muller. “ The tendons, ligaments and cartilages have blood-vessels, although in small number**.” Since the foregoing quotations were made, I have read with much interest some observations upon the subject by Mr. Liston. I subjoin the following extracts from them. “ The possibility of cartilage being acted upon, nourished, absorbed, and repaired by its own vessels, must thus be admitted.” Mr. L., however, adds, “ This cellular tissue (between the cartilage and bone) is scarcely demonstrable in the healthy condition of parts, any more than is the vascularity of the articular cartilage * Pathological and Surgical Observations on the Diseases of the Joints. Third Edition, 1834, p. 92. t Anatomie Gendrale, Article, Organization du Sgsteme Cartilagineux. J Elements of General Anatomy. Knox’s Translation, 1830, p. 246. § Trait6 d’Anatomie, vol. i. p. 60. Quatri^me Edition. II Observations sur les cartilages diarthrodiaux. Archives Gen4rales de Mddecine, vol. iv. p. 162. ^ Manuel d’Anatomie, vol. i. p. 354. ** Elements of Physiology, Translated by Dr. Balt, vol. i. p. 384. tt Medical and Chirurgical Transactions, vol. xxiii. pp. 94, 95.