[Ringed fibres in skeletal muscles--a contribution to the statement of these structures in unselected obductions (author's transl)].

26 muscles with one or more ringed fibres, corresponding to 2,83%, have been found in 939 muscles out of 313 unselected obductions. Taking into consideration that in the M. rectus femoris alone. 21 ringed fibres were found, raises the quota to 6.7%. After desintegration into primary diseases, the cardiovascular illnesses have been accompanied with ringed fibres in 20.6%, in comparison to the other disease groups which have been rarely or not at all affected. Apart from one case probably traumatic ringed fibres formation, individuals above 49 years old are exclusively striken, at which by far the male sex prevails. The number of ringed fibres continually increases with the age, and all cases with 20 or more ringed fibres have exceeded the 60th year. Besides there is also a relation between the ringed fibres frequency and the atrophy degree of the muscle. The fact that this relation is not reversible the presence of an additional dispositional factor must be concluded. The distribution pattern of the ringed fibres is non-uniform, they occur partly disseminated or also partly flock formed, heaped up ringed fibres. They are mostly simple closed circular fibres. Compound forms are sporadically observed. A coincidence of sarcoplasmic masses was in all cases not traceable. The information at hand will be discussed. The frequent appearance in cardiovascular illnesses leads back to stress factors like hypoxidosis, acidosis etc. by reduced cardiac output, the frequency in age to multifactor reasons. The preponderance of catabolic metabolism, electrolyte shifting and disturbances of transmineralisation is particularly made responsible. Etiological traumas play an additional role particularly in younger individuals. The frequent occurrence in the male sex is referred to the different gender-dependent gauge conditions of the two fibre types.