Joint capsule

“ The tendon of the biceps has evidently sunk through the capsule into the joint, and even when it is intra-capsular there is usually a double fold connecting its sheath of synovial membrane with that lining the capsule. In Man this has been broken through, but remains of it persist in the superior gleno-humeral fold. The middle gleno-humeral fold is the vestige of a strong ligament which steadies and limits the range of movement of the joint in many lower Mammals. ”

“ Lining the interior of the capsule, and all other parts of the joint cavity except where the articular cartilage is present, is the synovial membrane (fig. 4, dotted line) ; this is a layer of endothelial cells which secrete the synovial fluid to lubricate the interior of the joint by means of a small percentage of mucin, albumin and fatty matter which it contains.
A compound diarthrodial joint is one in which the joint cavity is divided partly or wholly into two by a meniscus or interarticular fibro-cartilage (fig. 5, Fc) . ”

“ The subject requires much more investigation, but there is every reason to believe that it is a tendon which has sunk into the joint, though whether that of the pectineus is doubtful, since the intra-capsular tendon comes from the ischium in Reptiles. In many Mammals, and among them the Orang, there is no ligamentum teres. In others, such as the Armadillo, the structure has not sunk right into the joint, but is connected with the pubo-femoral part of the capsule.
The Knee Joint is a hinge formed by the condyles and trochlea of the femur, the patella, and the head of the tibia. ”

“ The Membrane of the Central Capsule.—The capsule-membrane or envelope of the central capsule is both morphologically and physiologically one of the most important parts of the Radiolarian body, for it separates its two main constituents, the capsule with its nucleus and endoplasm and the extracapsulum with the calymma and exoplasm. The capsule-membrane is invariably present at some time or other during the life of the organism, even though in a few species it may persist only for a short time. ”

“ I have, however, no evidence that the fibers from the prism cells extend beyond the prisms in whose axis they lie. The capsule lies very closely applied to the lens, never becoming separated from it in sections, and is, hence, regarded as a secretion from the lens cells. Just what its function may be is difficult to surmise. The proximal complex eye possesses no capsule. I have thought, however, that if the lens should be adjustable, the capsule might [45] serve as a protection to the prisms of the vitreous portion of the retina during the adjusting movements of the lens. ”

“ In some species, however, the membrane only appears later, immediately before the formation of the spores, and hence is absent for a considerable period. Regarded as a whole, then, the capsule consists of the following parts:— (1) the capsule-membrane; (2) the enclosed endoplasm, or intracapsular protoplasm; (3) the nucleus. But in addition, many other non-essential structures may be enclosed in the central capsule, especially hyaline spheres (vacuoles) , fatty spheres, pigment granules, crystals, &c. ”

“ Small, hyaline nodules or patches may be scattered over the capsule, or the entire capsule may be tendon-like [“iced” or “Zuckerguss-leber”] . Adhesions with diaphragm, stomach, omentum, spleen, intestine and abdominal wall may occur. Fibrinous and purulent exudates may be found on the capsule, particularly on the diaphragmatic surface ”

“ The Capsule, the dry and dehiscent fruit of any compound pistil. The capsule may discharge its seeds through chinks or pores, as in the [Pg 123] Poppy, or burst irregularly in some part, as in Lobelia and the Snapdragon; but commonly it splits open (or is dehiscent) lengthwise into regular pieces, called Valves.
Fig. 395. Capsule of Iris, with loculicidal dehiscence; below, cut across.
Fig. 396. Pod of a Marsh St. John's-wort, with septicidal dehiscence.
371. Regular Dehiscence in a capsule takes place in two ways, which are best illustrated in pods of two or three cells. ”

“ The capsules or thécæ (θἡκη, a case) , a magnified group of which is represented in fig. 11, consist each of an aggregation of cells, fixed to a stalk (fig. 12) ; and along the back of the capsule is a close row of thicker cells, forming an elastic ring, the an ́nulus. When the seed-like bodies or spores (σπορἁ, a seed) are ripe, the annulus becomes straightened from its elastic power, and tears the capsule open, so that the spores are set free and scattered. ”

“ The filament under pressure shows thread-capsules in innumerable millions, forming the greatest part of its substance. This immense number is probably intended to meet the continual demand for the use of the weapons during the life of the animal; since, once shot, the thread sticks in the wounded flesh, and carries the capsule with it; while, if it fail to strike I suppose it can never be recoiled, and re-inclosed.
The filaments, which are of the same rose-purple hue as the spots, are excessively abundant in this species, and are projected on the slightest disturbance of the animal. ”

“ And while you're changing suits you'd better put on some stuff I've got here--Service special phones and detectors. Stick this little disk onto your chest with this bit of tape; low down, out of sight. Just under your wishbone is the best place. Take off your wrist-watch and wear this one continuously--never take it off for a second. Put on these pearls, and wear them all the time, too. Take this capsule and hide it against your skin, some place where it can't be found except by the most rigid search. Swallow it in an emergency--it goes down easily and works just as well inside as outside. ”

“ They are narrow and slender, and each is composed of two longitudinal portions (fig. 18 a) , one of which is pale yellow, the other reddish brown, like the capsule, and both are fringed and covered with very minute papillæ. The capsule (fig. 18) is oblong, the ring or annulus remaining for some time. The lid is conical (fig. 19) , with a longish somewhat oblique beak, and the calyptra is dimidiate (fig. 20) . The stems are very short; the leaves (fig. 17) are oblong, obtuse; the nerve strong, and projecting as a colourless spirally striated bristle. ”

“ Larger bodies, such as needles or bullets, which are not capable of being destroyed by the phagocytes, become encapsulated. In the granulation tissue by which they are surrounded large multinuclear giant-cells appear (“foreign-body giant-cells”) and attach themselves to the foreign body, the fibroblasts proliferate and a capsule of scar tissue is eventually formed around the body. The tissues of the capsule may show evidence of iron pigmentation. Sometimes fluid accumulates around a foreign body within its capsule, constituting a cyst. ”

“ This is far from being a surprise to any surgeon who has operated on a number of these cases, for the Morgagnian capsule is usually very much tougher than that of any other form of cataract. It has already been mentioned that, if the capsule bursts, the nucleus may escape, and may then91 sometimes be found either floating freely in one of the chambers of the eye, or fixed in one position by inflammatory adhesions, or, still more rarely, passing from chamber to chamber at intervals. ”

“ The heart is surrounded by a firm and nervous membrane, like a little house in which it is placed as in a tabernacle to defend it from accidents. This capsule is very dilated, that the heart in its dilations and movement may not be impeded thereby, and therefore nature made this capsule so that it should contain a certain dewy moisture with which the heart is bathed and moistened so that in its continual movement it should not become dry. For when this water be dried up, then the heart itself is desiccated, and emaciates and dries up all the body. ”

“ The concentric variety of growth includes those tumors which have commonly been described as encapsulated, and which are capable of ready enucleation from their surroundings in virtue of a thin layer of loose connective tissue lying between the tumor and the contiguous tissue. Such a capsule represents the matrix, the pia mater, in which lie the blood-vessels going to and coming from the tumor, and is often nothing else than the distended and hyperplastic fibrous tissue remaining after the absorption of the muscular fibres or gland-cells from the tissues surrounding the morbid growth. ”

“ In the genus of articulations of which we are treating, there is always one direction in which the motion of opposition is more easy than in the others; for example, it is elevation and depression in the jaw, flexion and extension in the first phalanges, in the wrist, &c. In general there are two lateral ligaments and the capsule in the direction in which the motions are most limited, the capsule only in that in which they are the most extensive. ”

“ The cellular contents of the capsule consist mainly of a mass of cells packed with food-material in a granular form, the whole enclosed in a delicate membrane formed of flat cells. When conditions become favourable for development a cavity appears near one end of the mass and the cells that form its walls assume a columnar form in vertical section. The cavity increases rapidly in size, and, as it does so, a young polypide is budded off from its walls. Another bud may then appear in a similar fashion, and the zoœcium of the first bud assumes its characteristic features. ”

“ Each central capsule contains an oil-globule, and is enclosed by a spherical lattice-shell, which bears a few (one to four) short cylindrical tubules. Each shell is again enveloped by a membranous polyhedral alveole and separated from it by structureless jelly. The thick cortical jelly-envelope, which surrounds the whole spherical colony, exhibits a fine radial striation, produced by radiating pseudopodia; many xanthellæ or yellow cells are scattered in the calymma. ”

“ The reproductive organs of mosses are of two kinds; the capsule containing minute spores, archegonia, and the antheridia, or male efflorescence. The capsule, theca, or sporangium, is lateral or terminal, sessile, or on a fruit stalk (seta) of various shapes, indehiscent, or bursting by four valves at the sides, or more commonly by a deciduous cup, operculum. When this falls the mouth of the capsule becomes exposed. The rim is crowned with tooth-like or 446 cilia-like appendages in sets of four or multiples of that number—peristome. These are often brightly coloured and hydroscopic. ”