Fig. 4.

Cajal’s description of terminal branch elimination following CNS injury using classical histological methods. A) Fig. 196 from Cajal’s book. “Piece of the central stump of the spinal wound of a young cat, three days after the operation. A, thickened collaterals which will be transformed into terminal fibres; a, b, c, longitudinal portion of axons destined to disappear; B, club with an appendix; C, final glomerulus; D, edges of the wound with axonic and lipoid detritus; e, free balls which are becoming hya-line.” B) Fig. 195 from Cajal’s book. “Schematic drawing designed to show the resorbed portion of the mutilated conductors of the white matter. A, Fibre of the posterior or sensory fasciculus; B, fibre in continuity with the axon of a funicular neurone; C, fibre in continuity with the axon of a neurone situated in superior centres (pyramidal tract of the cerebrum, etc.); D, plane of the wound; a, b, and c, segments which have disappeared.” Adapted from (Ramón y Cajal, 1928).