Disease and Its CausesCouncilman, W. T. (William Thomas)
Science
Disease and Its Causes
Councilman, W. T. (William Thomas)
Diseases -- Causes and theories of causation
Repair will also take place the more readily the less complicated is
the architectural structure of the part affected. When a series of
tissues variously and closely related to one another enter into the
structure of an organ, there may be new formation of cells; but when
the loss involves more than this, the complicated architectural
structure will not be completely replaced. A brick which has been
knocked out of a building can be easily replaced, but the renewal of
an area of the wall is more difficult. In the kidney, for example, the
destruction of single cells is quickly made good by new cell
formation, but the loss of an area of tissue is never restored. In the
liver, on the other hand, which is of much simpler construction, large
areas of tissue can be newly formed. For the formation of new cells in
a part there must be a sufficient amount of formative material; then
the circulation of the blood becomes more active, more blood being
brought to the part by dilatation of the vessels supplying it.
Repair after a loss can be perfect or imperfect. The tissue lost can
be restored so perfectly that no trace of an injury remains; but when
the loss has been extensive, and in a tissue of complex structure,
complete restoration does not take place and a less perfect tissue is
formed which is called a scar. Examination of the skin in almost
anyone will show some such scars which have resulted from wounds. They
are also found in the internal organs of the body as the result of
injuries which have healed. The scar represents a very imperfect
repair. In the skin, for example, the scar tissue never contains such
complicated apparatus as hair and sweat glands; the white area is
composed of an imperfectly vascularized fibrous tissue which is
covered with a modified epidermis. The scar is less resistant than the
normal tissue, injury takes place more easily in it and heals with
more difficulty.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account