CHAP. XXXVI. Of the bones of the Legge, or Shanke.
THose which would describe the muscles of the legge, ought first to de∣scribe * 1.1 the bones thereof, beginning at the Rotula, or whirle-bone of the knee.
This bone is gristlely on the outside, and round in compasse, but on the inner and middle part after some sort gibbous, but somewhat flatted at the sides, that so it may be fitlier applied to the joynt of the knee, and fitted within the anteri∣our cavity of the two appendices of the thigh, and the upper and foremost of the legge.
The use thereof is to strengthen the joynt of the knee, and to hold the legge * 1.2 at his due extent, so that it may not be bended so farre forwards, as it is backe-wards.
The bones of the legge are two, the one thicker, called by the particular and pro∣per * 1.3 name, the Os Tibiae or legge-bone; the other which is lesser, is termed Perone, or Fibula, but commonly the lesser focile, (and in English it may be termed the shin-bone.) The thicker being hollow and marrowie, is seated in the inner part of the leg, * 1.4 having two processes, the one bigger, the other lesse.
The bigger seated on the upper part of the bone, and conjoyned to it by Symphysis, makes two superficiall and side cavities disioyned by an indifferent rising; where∣fore this bone is connext to the bone of the thigh by Ginglymos. For in the ca∣vities thereof it receives the lower and hinder protuberances of the Appendix of the thigh-bone, but the middle eminencie thereof, is received by it betweene the two protuberances thereof.
This joynt is strengthened, not onely by the force of the tendons, or muscles en∣ding there, but also of three strong ligaments, of which one proceeds from all the externall, another from all the internall part of that connxeion; the third which we, out of Hippocrates, called Diaphysis, from the distance or space betweene them. * 1.5 The other processe of the legge-bone, which we called the lesse, seated in the lower part thereof, makes as it were a double cavitie, whereby it receives the Astragalus or Pasterne bone; but on the inside it makes the anckle, as the Perone makes it without: betweene these ancles the Astragalus is received on the sides, and turned as the nut in a Crosse-bow, as often as there is neede to bend or extend the foote. Besides, this same leg-bone, being triangular hath three eminencies made in the shape of an Asses back; the sharper descends alongst the fore part, called by the Greekes Anticnemion; the second resides on the inner part, and the third on the outer; all these must be diligent∣ly observed, and chiefely, that on the fore part; because it is as a guide and rule to a Chirurgion in the well setting of a broken legge. The Perone, or shinne-bone, is * 1.6 seated, as it were, on the outside, and as behinde the legge-bone; it hath also two appendixes hollow on the inside, but gibbous on the out. This bone by the upper of these is fastened and inserted under the inner, and in some sort the hinder appendix of the legge-bone, so that it is in no sort articulated with the thigh, but