Part 1
With regard to the construction of bones
1, the bones and joints of
the fingers are simple, the bones of the hand and foot are numerous,
and articulated in various ways; the uppermost are the largest; the
heel consists of one bone which is seen to project outward, and the
back tendons are attached to it. The leg consists of two bones, united
together above and below, but slightly separated in the middle; the
external bone (
fibula), where it comes into proximity with the little
toe, is but slightly smaller than the other, more so where they are
separated, and at the knee, the outer hamstring arises from it
2; these
bones have a common epiphysis below, with which the foot is moved,
and another epiphys is above
3 in which is moved the articular extremity
of the femur, which is simple and light in proportion to its length,
in the form of a condyle, and having the patella (connected with it?),
the femur itself bends outward and forward; its head is a round epiphysis
which gives origin to ligament inserted in the acetabulum of the hip-joint
4.
This bone is articulated somewhat obliquely, but less so than the
[p. 279]humerus. The ischium is united to the great vertebra contiguous to
the os sacrum by a cartilaginous ligament
5. The spine, from the os
sacrum to the great vertebra, is curved backward; in this quarter
are situated the bladder, the organs of generation, and the inclined
portion of the rectum; from this to the diaphragm it proceeds in a
straight line inclining forward, and the psoae are situated there;
from this point, to the great vertebra above the tops of the shoulders,
it rises in a line that is curved backward, and the curvature appears
greater than it is in reality, for the posterior processes of the
spine are there highest; the articulation of the neck inclines forward.
The vertebrae on the inside
6 are regularly placed upon one another,
but behind they are connected by a cartilaginous ligament; they are
articulated in the form of synarthrosis at the back part of the spinal
marrow; behind they have a sharp process having a cartilaginous epiphysis,
whence proceeds the roots of nerves running downward, as also muscles
extending from the neck to the loins, and filling the space between
the ribs and the spine. The ribs are connected to all the intervertebral
spaces on the inside, from the neck to the lumbar region, by a small
ligament, and before to the sternum, their extremities being spongy
and soft; their form is the most arched in man of all animals; for
in this part, man is, of all animals, the narrowest in proportion
to his bulk. The ribs are united to each vertebra by a small ligament
at the place from which the short and broad lateral processes (
transverse
processes?) arise. The sternum is one continuous bone, having lateral
pits for the insertion of the ribs; it is of a spongy and cartilaginous
structure. The clavicles are rounded in front, having some slight
movements at the sternum, but more free at the acromion. The acromion,
in man, arises from the scapula differently from most other animals.
The scapula is cartilaginous toward the spine, and spongy elsewhere,
having an irregular figure externally;
[p. 280]its neck and articular cavity
cartilaginous; it does not interfere with the movements of the ribs,
and is free of all connection with the other bones, except the humerus.
The head of the humerus is articulated with its (
glenoid?) cavity,
by means of a small ligament, and it consists of a rounded epiphysis
composed of spongy cartilage, the humerus itself is bent outward and
forward, and it is articulated with its (
glenoid?) cavity by its side,
and not in a straight line. At the elbow it is broad, and has condyles
and cavities, and is of a solid consistence; behind it is a cavity
in which the coronoid process (
olecranon?) of the ulna is lodged,
when the arm is extended; here, too, is inserted the benumbling nerve,
which arises from between the two bones of the forearm at their junction,
and terminates there.
