Although capillary microscopy was originally described in 1912 by Lombard, little work has been done in this country on the morphology of capillaries in children. Abroad, M\l=u"\ller,Jaensch, Hoepfner and others have made some striking contributions; but for the most part, the physicians in this country are unaware of their work and of capillary microscopy in general. For this reason, I shall briefly review the significant literature and also append a few of my own observations. The interpretation of capillary visualization depends a good deal on the point of view of the individual observer. Though capillary structure is quite definite, unless great care is exercised, deformities and abnormalities may be read into a normal picture if the observer is of an imaginative disposition. Even the interpretation of photomicrographs of capillaries may vary with the individual. In my own work I have considered all capillaries normal unless an undisputed pathologic structure was found.For a better understanding of the capillary picture, the anatomy and histology of the vessels and of their adjacent tissues are presented * (% 1)· The number and size of the vessels running to the skin vary in dif¬ ferent situations, the number being greater in those regions that often experience external pressure, such as the palms and soles. All of the branches of these arteries anastomose freely with each other and with adjacent vessels, and thus form a characteristic cutaneous arterial network in the deepest layer of the cutis where it joins the fat. From this mesh, arched and branching vessels proceed outward and, anastomos¬ ing, form a subpapillary arterial network near the junction of the middle and outer thirds of the cutis. Numerous small branches arise from this network and run as terminal arterioles to the superficial layers of the skin. These turn and course for a short distance parallel to the skin in the direction of the papillary ridges beneath which they run. They send From the Department of

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract