We can in the following table present at a single view the
classification of the fibrous organs that I have just pointed out.
┌ ┌Fibrous Membranes.
│ │Fibrous Capsules.
│ │ ┌Partial.
│Of a membranous │Fibrous Sheaths. └General.
│ form. │ ┌Partial.
│ │ ┌For covering └General.
FIBROUS │ │Aponeuroses │
ORGANS. │ │ │ ┌With a broad surface.
│ └ └Of Insertion│In an arch.
│ └With separate fibres.
│
│ ┌Tendons ┌Simple.
│In the form │ └Compound.
│ of fasciæ. └Ligaments ┌With regular fasciæ.
└ └With irregular fasciæ.
Though the numerous organs which enter into this classification, belong
to very different apparatus, though they seem to be spread here and
there in the economy, without holding together at all, and though all
appear insulated, yet they are almost all continuous and connected; so
that we may consider the fibrous system, like the vascular and cerebral
nervous systems, that is to say, as having a common centre, from which
all the different organs go that form its divisions.
This common centre of the fibrous system appears to me to be the
periosteum, not that I pretend that like the heart or the brain, it
sends out radiations upon the organs that go from it, but because
anatomical inspection shows us that all the fibrous organs are
intimately connected with it, and by its means communicate with each
other; the following observations are a proof of this.
1st. Among the fibrous membranes, that of the corpus cavernosum
intermixes with the periosteum below the ischium; the dura-mater is
continued with it through the foramina at the base of the brain;
by uniting itself by the lamina which accompanies the optic nerve
to the sclerotica, it joins to it this membrane, and thus serves
as an intermediate organ for them. 2d. All the fibrous capsules
above and below the articulation intermix with the periosteum. 3d.
Wherever fibrous sheaths exist their fibres intermix with those
of the periosteum. 4th. All the aponeuroses either of covering or
insertion have a similar intermixing. 5th. Wherever the tendons are
expanded, they are also confounded with this membrane. 6th. At the
two extremities of the ligaments it unites also its fibres to theirs.
There are none scarcely except the albuginea, the perichondrium of
the larynx, the membranes of the spleen and the kidney, that form an
exception to this general rule.
The fibrous system should be considered then in a general manner, that
is to say, as extending itself everywhere, belonging at the same time
to many organic apparatus, distinct in each by its form, but continuous
in the greatest number, having everywhere communications. This manner
of describing it will appear still more natural, if we consider that
the periosteum, the general boundary of the different portions of this
system, is itself everywhere continuous, and at the place where the
articulations divide it, the fibrous capsules and the ligaments serve,
as we have said, to reunite it.
We understand from this use of the periosteum in relation to the
fibrous system, what the advantage is of its situation upon the bones
which offer it a solid support, and give the same also to the organs of
which it is the boundary.