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. VII. Of the Fingers of the Hand.

THe last part of the hand containes the Fingers, called digiti, whose order and ranke is called Phallaux; the internall articulations or ioynts; are called inter∣nodia, the knots of the fingers. The fingers ends which are round and fleshy * 1.1 are called Vuia or the grapes. The outer part of the fingers haue knubbie or knotty ioynts called in Latine Nodi, we call them knuckles, and there are three in euery finger. Each hand hath fiue fingers, neither more nor lesse, that the apprehension * 1.2 might be more perfect. For take away the thumbe, and you take away the power and strength of all the rest: if you take away the little finger you canot incompasse anything cir∣cularly.

Now these fingers vvere made vnequall in length and magnitude that wee might the better comprehend all figures and all quantities both greater and lesse. The first, be∣cause * 1.3 in strength it is equipolent or equiualent to al the rest is called pollex or the Thumb and hath onely two ioynts. And this finger hath peculiar muscles, bending, extending and leading it too and fro, because it hath something peculiar in his motions. The second is * 1.4 called Index from his vse, because we vse it when we would shew any thing. Suetonius cal∣leth it Salutaris, it hath a Greeke name also from a word which signifieth to licke, because with it we vse to taste or licke any thing. The third is called Medius or Famosus the mid∣dle * 1.5 from his situation, Famosus because by stretching this finger foorth we vse to deride or disgrace when we list.

The fourth is called Medicus, because therewith in old time they vsed to mingle or stir medicines; tis also called Annularis or the ring-finger, because the Ringes are there most * 1.6 commonly worne. The fift, because it is the least is called Mintmus, and Auricularis bee∣cause with it we picke our eares. Euery finger hath three bones ioyned by Ginglymos, as we shall say heereafter. Finally, for more steddy apprehension there are nailes set vnto the Fingers ends engendred of the more crasse and thicke excrements of the third concocti∣on, * 1.7 and therefore they grow continually only in length as do the haires. But their growth is not by nourishment but by an imperfect acruing of the matter, for there is no traction or assimulation of aliment, but onely an apposition of excrement.

They are moderately hard that they might not be hurt with outward things rushing a∣gainst them and also round fot their further security: the Latines call them Vngues, their * 1.8 roote which is like a white moon is called Radix or Ortus: the tops which we pare off Ex∣tremitas, the white spottes in the Naile Mendacia, so many spots so many lyes. And this shal suffice for the description of the vpper Ioynts, now follow the lower.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The parts of the fingers.
• * 1.2

  Why fiue fin∣gers and no more.
• * 1.3

  The Thumbe
• * 1.4

  The forfinger The middle∣finger.
• * 1.5

  The Ring fin∣ger.
• * 1.6

  The little fin∣ger,
• * 1.7

  The nature of the Nailes.
• * 1.8

  The partes of the Nailes.