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

CHAP. XXIIII. Of the Nerves of the Necke, Backe, and Arme.

NOw we should handle the sinewes of the Arme, but because these pro∣ceed from the Nerves of the Necke and Backe, I thinke it fit there∣fore * 1.1 to speake something of them in the first place.

Therefore from the Necke there proceed seven paire of Nerves, the first of which proceeds from the nowle bone, and the first Verte∣bra * 1.2 of the necke; as also the first paire of the Backe from the last Vertebra of the Necke and the first of the Chest. But all these Nerves are divided into two or more branches of the first paire (that is to say, on each side) goe, the one to the small right muscle, ascending from the first racke-bone of the necke to the nowle bone, the other to the long muscle on the foreside of the necke.

The branches of the second paire are distributed, some with a portion which they * 1.3 receive from the third paire over all the skin of the head; the two others go as well to the muscles, which are from the second Vertebra to the backe part of the head, and from the same to the first Vertebra, as also to the long muscle before mentioned.

One of the third paire of Sinewes is communicated to the head, as we said before, but others to the Muscles which extend, or erect the head and the Necke; there is also * 1.4 one of these distributed into the neighbouring ••••de muscle and part of the long.

The nerves of the fourth paire go, one to the muscles aswel of the neck as the head, & * 1.5 to the broad muscle; the other after it hath sent some portiō therof into the long mus∣cle & the side muscles of the necke, it descends with a portion of the fift and sixt paire to the Midriffe. One of the branches of the fift paire is bestowed on the hinde muscles * 1.6 of the necke and head, the other upon the longe muscle and Midriffe; the third is com∣municated to the Levatores, or Heaving muscles of the Arme and shoulder.

One of the Nerves of the sixt paire goes to the hinde muscles of the Necke and * 1.7 head, another to the Midriffe, the third with a portion of the seventh paire of the necke, and of the first and second of the Chest goe to the Armes and heaving muscles of the shoulder-blade.

One of the branches of the seventh paire runs to the broad muscle and to the neighbouring muscles both of the necke and head; another encreased with a portion * 1.8 of the fift and sixt paire of the necke, and a third joyned to the second and third paire

of the Chest descending into the Arme goe to the hand.

But you must note that the Muscles which take their originall from many Vertebrae, whether from above downwards, or from below upwards, admit Nerves not onely from the Vertebrae, from whence they take their originall, but also from them which they come neere in their descent, or ascent!

There passe twelue conjugations of Nerves from the Rack-bones of the Chest. * 1.9

The first entring forth from betweene the last Racke-bone of the necke and the first of the Chest, is divided (that is, on each side, each Nerve from his side) into two or more portions, as also all the rest. Therefore the branches of this first conjugation goe some of them to the Armes, as we said before, others to the muscles as well these of the Chest, as others arising there, or running that way.

The branches of the second conjugation are distributed to the same parts, that these * 1.10 of the first were.

But the branches of all the other conjugations even to the twelfth, are communi∣cated, * 1.11 some to the intercostall muscles running within under the true ribs even to the Sternon, and under the bastard ribs even to the right and long muscles; and the Co∣stall Nerves of the sixt conjugation are augmented by meeting these intercostall branches by the way as they descend by the roots of the Ribs. Other particles of the said Nerves are communicated to the muscles as well of the Chest, as spine, as the same Muscles passe forth, or runne alongst by the Vertebrae, from whence these nerves have either their originall, or passage forth.

Having thus therefore shewed the originall of the Sinewes of the Arme, it remaines * 1.12 that we shew their number and distribution.

Their number is five or sixe; proceeding from the fifth, sixth, and seventh Vertebra of the necke, and the first and second of the Chest. The first of which not mixed with any other from the fifth Vertebra of the necke, goes to the Muscle Deltoides and the skin which covers it.

The other 4 or 5 when they have mutually embraced each other, not onely from their first originall but even to the shoulder, where they free themselves from this convolution, are distributed after the following manner.

The first and second descending to the Muscle mentioned a litle before, and thence sometimes even to the hand, is by the way communicated to the Muscle Biceps, and then under the said Muscle it meets and is joyned with the third Nerve. Third∣ly it is communicated with the Longest muscle of the Cubite, in the bending where∣of it is divided into two branches descending alongst the two bones of the Cubit, untill at last borne up by the fleshy pannicle it is spent upon the skin and inner side of the hand.

The third lower than this, is first united with the second, under the Muscle Biceps, then straight way separated from it, it sends a portion thereof to the Arme which lyes under it, and to the skin thereof; lastly at the bending of the Cubit on the fore side, it is mingled with the fift paire.

The fourth, the largest of all the rest, comming downe below the third branch un∣der the Biceps with the internall Axillary veine and Artery, is turned towards the outward and backe part of the Arme, there to communicate it selfe to the Muscles extending the Cubit, and also to the inner skin of the Arme and the exteriour of the Cubit; the remainder of this branch when in its descent it hath arrived at the joynt of the Cubit, below the bending thereof it is divided into two branches, the one wherof descending alongst the Cubit is spent on the outside of the Wrest; the other associating the Wand is on the outside in like manner in two branches besto∣wed upon the Thumbe, and in as many upon the fore finger, and by a fift upon the middle finger though more obscurely.

The fift branch being also lower than the rest, sliding between the muscles bending and extending the Cubite, when it comes behinde the inner protuberation of the Cubite (in which place we said before the third branch meets with this) it is com∣municated to the internall muscles of the same, and then divided into three portions one of which on the outside alongst the middle of the Cubite goes in two sprigs to the litle finger, & so many to the middle finger, and one to the Ring finger; the other

two, the one without and the other within the Ring, goe to the hand, where after each of them hath bestowed what was requisite on the muscles of the hand, they are wasted into other five small portions, of which these which are from that portion which descends without the Ring, send two sprigs to the litle, two to the fore and one to the middle finger; but these which come from that which passes under the Ring, by such a distribution communicates it selfe to other fingers, as two sprigs to the thumbe, two to the fore and one to the middle finger. The sixt the lowest and last runs betweene the skin and fleshy Pannicle, by the inner protuberation of the Arme, and then is spent upon the skin of the Cubit.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The 7 paire of nerves of the necke.
• * 1.2

  The first paire.
• * 1.3

  The second paire.
• * 1.4

  The third paire.
• * 1.5

  The fourth paire.
• * 1.6

  The fift paire.
• * 1.7

  The sixt paire
• * 1.8

  The seventh paire.
• * 1.9

  The 12. pair•• of Nerves of the Chest. The first pai••••▪
• * 1.10

  The second paire.
• * 1.11

  The othe••▪ paires.
• * 1.12

  The Nerves vvhich are carryed to th•• Armes.