RC Scripts question

Hi,

Have a question for the "bash/sh" experts.

In the files like rc.M,   in the "if" statements, some scripts have a
period then space, then called_script start/stop_parameter etc

Now, as I understand it, the period means run called_script with the
sh environment of rc.6.

Am I correct in assuming this means if I set the ulimit to 8192 for
rc.M  that all called scripts will get a ulimit raise to 8192?

Also, conversely if I call, say,  rc.httpd with a ulimit of 8192 will
that be honored or ignored?

Or, do I have the period (source???) all wrong (highly probably since
google is full of so much mis-information)?

Niki