The workes of that famous chirurgion Ambrose Parey translated out of Latine and compared with the French. by Th: Johnson

CHAP. XIIII. The distribution of the nerves, or sinewes of the sixth coniugation.

BEcause the Distribution of the arteries cannot be well shewed, unlesse wee * 1.1 violate those nerves which are carried over the Chest, therefore before we shew the distribution of the arteries, we will as briefely as we can, prose∣cute the distribution of these nerves.

Now the sixth conjugation brings forth three paire of nerves; for passing out of the skull, as it comes downe to the Chest, it by the way sends forth some branches to certaine muscles of the necke, and to the three ascendant muscles of the Larinx on each side of the Sternon and upon the clavicles. Then the remainder descending in∣to the Chest, is divided on each side into these three paire. The first paire makes the Ramus costalis. The second, the Ramus recurrens. The third paire, the Ramus stoma∣chicus. * 1.2 The Ramus costalis, or costall branch is so called, because descending by the roots of the ribs, even to the holy bone, and joyning themselves to these which pro∣ceede from each of the Vertebra's of the spine, they are carried to all the natu∣rall parts.

The Recurrens, or recurrent is also called, because as it were starting up from the chest, it runs upwards againe, but these two Recurrent nerves doe not run backe from the * 1.3 same place; but the right from below the artery, called by some the axillarie, by others Subclavian, and the left from beneath the great artery, descending to the naturall parts. But each of them on each side ascending along by the weazon, even to the La∣rinx, and then they infinuate themselves by the wings of the Cartilago scutiformis, and Thyroydes into the proper muscles, which open and shut the Larinx. * 1.4

By how much the nerves are nearer the originall, to wit, the braine, or spinall

marrow, they are by so much the softer. On the contrary, by how much they are further absent from their originall, they are so much the harder and stronger, which is the reason, that Nature would have these recurrent nerves to runne backe againe upwards, that so they might be the stronger to performe the motions of the muscles * 1.5 of the Larinx. But the Stomachicus or stomacke-branch is so called, because it des∣cends to the stomacke or ventricle. For this branch descending on both sides by the sides of the gullet, sends many branches from it into the inner substance of the lungs, into the coate thereof, into the Pericardium and heart; and then comming into the upper orifice of the stomacke, it is spent in many branches, which folded after divers manners and wayes, chiefely makes that mouth or stomacke, which is the seate of the Animall apetite (as they terme it) and hunger, and the judger of things convenient or hurtfull for the stomacke. But from thence they are diversely disseminated over all the body of the ventricle.

Moreover, the same branch sends forth some small branches to the liver and blad∣der of the gall, giving each part by the way, so much sense as should be sufficiently necessary for it. Here you must note, the stomacke branch descends on each side one, knit to the gullet, and by the way they divide themselves into two branches, each of which goes to the opposite side, that it may there joine itselfe to the nerve of that side. To which purpose the right is carried above the gullet, the left below it, so that these two stomaticke become foure, and againe these foure presently become two.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Three paire of nerves of the sixt conjuga∣tion.
• * 1.2

  Ramus Costalis
• * 1.3

  Recurrens
• * 1.4

  An anatomical Axiome.
• * 1.5

  Why nature would have the vocall nerves recur∣rent. Ramus stoma∣chicus.