Mikrokosmographia a description of the body of man. Together vvith the controuersies thereto belonging. Collected and translated out of all the best authors of anatomy, especially out of Gasper Bauhinus and Andreas Laurentius. By Helkiah Crooke Doctor of Physicke, physitian to His Maiestie, and his Highnesse professor in anatomy and chyrurgerie. Published by the Kings Maiesties especiall direction and warrant according to the first integrity, as it was originally written by the author.

CHAP. XXXVI. Of the Epiglottis or Aftertongue, and his Muscles.

THat which the Grecians call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. because it is set aboue the glottis or whistle of the Larinx, the Latines cal minor Lingua or Lingula fistulae, but be∣cause he glottis is also called Lingula, we haue rather called it the Aftertong. It is a gristle and a couer of the cleft of the Larinx made to fall vpon it when * 1.1 we swallow, that no thing should slip aside into the weazon [Tab. 17. it is placed betweene the first and second figure, but inuerted and was cut away from figure 1. at^aa. but Tab. 15. fig. 4. 5. 6. ^b.]

Aristotle in the twelfth chapter of his second booke de Historia animalium, thinketh that all creatures which lay Egges doe want this Epiglottis, but doe close exquisitely or di∣late againe the top of the Larinx as they please to keepe any thing out of their longues without any vse of such a couer as is necessary in other creatures. Placentinus addeth that Frogs haue none of it.

It is seated betweene the Larinx and the tongue, and if you looke vpon the superfi∣cies of the membrane that compasseth the tongue which is continuall with this Epiglottis, it may be esteemed to be as it were a part of the tongue: whereupon some haue thought that it hath his originall from the roote of the tongue, whereas it is more likely that it arises * 1.2 from the shield-gristle. For it ariseth vpward with a large basis recurued forward from the in∣ward and higher part of the shield gristle, [Tab. 15. fig. 4. *. fig. 5. †] afterward it grows bro∣der a little and a little, and becommeth like a round Arch, but in brute beasts it is by degrees angustated and determineth into a broade and sharpe edge. In the basis thereof it is tyed to the shield-gristle, all the rest of it is loose and hangs at libertie.

The forme as sayth Hippocrates in his 4. booke de morbis, is like the Iuy leaue, for the * 1.3 Basis is broad and arched forward into a roundnesse; or it is like a little tongue as Pliny and Celsus write. Vesalius compares it to a triangle. Columbus to a litle shield curued & straight∣ned toward the edge. Aquapendens to a triangle which hath crooked sides.

The vpper part called the backe which is next vnto the Palate, is a little conuex and buncheth outward, the lower side which is next to the cleft or whistle is hollow or a little concauous. The bredth of it is not only enough to couer the cleft but to spare.

It is also of it owne Nature rigid and stiffe standing, that the pipe of the rough arterie * 1.4 might remaine open, least the heart should bee suffocated; yet is it flexible that it might perfectly shut vp the cleft ouer which it is disposed: beside, if it had not beene flexible the waight of the meat and drinke would not haue depressed it in the swallowing: againe, if it had not beene stiffe and rigid, when it is once borne downe vpon the cleft in the swallow∣ing of meate, it woulde not haue started vp againe to giue way for the yssue of the breath. Wherefore the substance of it is gristly and thinne, somwhat softer then the other gristles, * 1.5 yet so, that it is softer, thinner and more flexible on that side that respecteth the Palate, es∣pecially in the very end neare the gullet it is very soft, and couered with a fatte membrane. For when the creature breatheth it is lift vp of it own accord to make way for the ayre, but when hee swalloweth it coucheth vppon the Larynx least the meate should fall into the Lungs.

For that which is swallowed (as Galen well hath written in the 16. chapter of his seuenth booke de vsu partium) falleth first vppon the rootes of this After-tongue, after it is carried * 1.6 vpon the backe of it which maketh it to couch or incline. These motions this Epiglottis could not haue had if it had bin either mēbranous or fleshy, because it would haue alwayes lien depressed, or being once depressed it would hardly haue been raysed vp againe, neuer erected vp right. Neither could it haue beene bony, for then it would alwayes haue bin rigid, neither could it haue bin depressed with the swallowing of meats and drinks. Wher∣fore with Galen we think that the motion of the Epiglottis or After-tongue in a man is Na∣turall, * 1.7 and that the cleft is couered and againe vncouered, not by the helpe of muscles but by the waight of those things which we eat and drinke.

But in beastes that chew the Cud there are some muscles found, as wee shall say in the * 1.8 History of the Muscles & shew them somewhat particularly, because it is an ordinary thing for young practitioners in Anatomy, to exercise themselues in dissecting of the Throttles of Oxen and such like: But in the meane time we must remember that the Epiglottis is co∣uered ouer with a fat membrane much like to the nature of a ligament, which at the shield gristle is full of fat.

The vse of the Epiglottis is to couer the Glottis or whistle when we swallow our meate; * 1.9 for if at vnawares any of the meate do slip into the wezon, we presently keake and are near strangling till by coughing it be gotten vp again, the reason is, because that which descen∣deth taketh away Respiration. So Anacreon the Poet was strāgled with the stone of a Rey∣son. And Fabius the Senator drinking a cup of Milke was choaked with a haire that was therein.

Alexander Benedictus tels of a woman who would haue giuen her Sonne a Pill and was constrayned to thrust it downe his throate with her finger, she thrust it into his wezon and hee died instantly. Because therefore a man cannot liue without Respiration, when that Respiration is interrupted Nature rowseth vp her selfe to make resistance, and so we straine at the least crumme that fals the wrong way. Yet we must not imagine that the cleft is so exquisitly closed but that some part of the drinke slippeth into the rough artery, gliding downe by the side of the Glottis though it be not felt. And this way we thinke distilations doe yssue out of the head into the Lungs, which though they bee very aboundant yet hee * 1.10 that is sicke cannot feele them, especially in sleepe they gather very fast together. Howe Hippocrates proued that a part of the drinke is conuayed vnto the Lungs, wee haue before shewed by the cutting of a Hogs throate instantly after he hath drunk water coloured with Vermilion or any such like, for you shall finde the very colour in his weazon. Againe, if some of the drinke did not slip downe by the sides of the rough Artery, it were in vaine to prescribe Ecclegmes, Syrups or Lozenges in affects of the Chest. But we finde by experi∣ence * 1.11 that all these doe helpe expectoration and make the spittle come vp more roundly, if they be taken by little and little the head reclined backeward, licked off a knife, a Liquerize stick or such like, or if the Lozenges be conteyned in the mouth til they melt of themselues

[illustration]

Table 17. Figure 1. and 2. sheweth the tongue cut from the bodie, and the Muscles thereof. In the first the right side of it, & in the second his Muscles somewhat vncouered.

[illustration]

Figure 3. steweth the bodie of the Tongue diuided according to the length of it and his Ligament.

[illustration]

TABVLA. XVII.

[illustration]

FIG. I.

[illustration]

FIG II.

[illustration]

FIG. III.

[illustration]

Tab. 17. figure 1. sheweth the Larynx, hauing the Shielde Gristle cut into two parts, but one part of it together with the Epiglottis is inuerted as by the Letters may be perceiued.

[illustration]

Figure 2. exhibiteth the Larynx shewing the Glottis.

[illustration]

FIG. I.

[illustration]

FIG. II.

• AAA. The Tongue inuested with a Coate common to the mouth.
• BB. A portion of the coat compas∣sing the mouth cut frō the mouth according to the sides of the low∣er iaw.
• C A part of the same coat cut from the inner part of the Palat toge∣ther with the tongue.
• D. The Muscles caled Basi-Glossi, a∣cording to Vesalius the first, but in our account the fourth, or the sixt of the bone Hyois according to Falopius.
• E. The Muscles cald Ceratoglossi, or the second Muscle according to Vesalius, and in our account the fifte.
• F. The Muscles called Styloglossi or the third Muscle.
• G. The Muscles called Myloglossi, or the fourth Muscle according to Vesalius.
• H. The flesh consisting of the Glā∣dules, or the ninth Muscle of the Tongue according to Vesalius.
• II. The Ligament of the Tongue.
• KK, LL. The Musculous substance of the tongue, & the fibres thereof.

[illustration]

The Second Figure.

• a 1. The Shield-gristle Dissected.
• b 1. The Epig ottis or After-tongue.
• c, c. The Arytaenoides or the Ewre∣gristle.
• 1, 2. The glottis or small clefte of the Throttle.
• ee, 1. The internall Muscle forming this cleft or the internall Shield∣gristle.
• f. 2. The opening Muscle or the lat∣ter Crycoaryth enoides.
• g. 2. The transuerse Muscle or the Arytaenoydes.

and passe insensiblie into the Larynx. And heerein we imitate Galen in the seuenth chap∣ter of the fourth Booke of his method, where being to cure one that had an Vlcer on the inside of the Rough Arterie, caused the Patient to lye vpon his backe, and a moyst Me∣dicine that was fit for the Vlcer to bee giuen and to be held in the mouth as long as hee could, and to relax and remit the Muscles of the place, for so saith Galen by little and lit∣tle some of the Medicine wil distil into the Arterie.

But the reason why water or drinke when it falleth into the Weazon causeth a cough * 1.12 is, because as Hippocrates saith it maketh a disturbance for that it opposeth the Respirati∣on. For the Liquor that falleth downe by the sides of the Arterie, doth not withstand the egresse of the aer, rather it furthereth it by making the way moyst & slippery. Hence we may see how ignorant the Ancients were in Anatomy, as Plato, Philistones, Dioxippus, and such like, who conceiued that the drinke went into the Arterie or Weazon, and so into the Lungs, and the meate through the gullet into the stomacke. Against this opi∣nion Hippocrates disputeth in his fourth Booke De Morbis, that is, against those that think

the drinke falleth into the Lunges, yet hee doth not denie but some drinke sipeth that way as we haue saide before. Wherefore (saith Galen in the ninth Chapter of his eight booke De Placitis) if Plato thought that all the drinke was conueyed into the Lunges he cannot be excused because his ignorance is euen palpable: but if he thinke that a part of the drinke is deriued into them he is not altogether deceiued.

The like we may say of Aristotle, who thought it an error to say that the drinke pas∣sed into the Arterie because there is no thorough passage for it, as there is out of the * 1.13 Stomacke into the draught. For verily if that be auouched of all the drinke it is a verie absurd conceite: but if it be meant of a little it seemeth to be true.

Another vse of the Epiglottis or After-tongue is to strike the aer which ariseth from * 1.14 the Lungs into a tuneablenesse, especially if it arise with a force or impetuous violence thereunto. And this vse we haue out of Laurentius.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Hippocrates calleth it cla strum the lock or baspe. What it is.
• * 1.2

  The situation Connexion.
• * 1.3

  The forme.
• * 1.4

  Rigid or stiffe.
• * 1.5

  Yet soft too.
• * 1.6

  The reason thereof.
• * 1.7

  The motion of it in men Natural.
• * 1.8

  Insome beasts voluntary.
• * 1.9

  The vse of the Epiglottis.
• * 1.10

  Part of the drink g••ts in∣to the wezon. An instance.
• * 1.11

  The vse of pectoral medicines.
• * 1.12

  Why wee cough when anie thing fals into the wea∣zon.
• * 1.13

  Aristotle.
• * 1.14

  Another vse.