CHAP. XXVIII. Of the Muscle of the Palme, and 2. or 3 other, yssuing from the fleshy Membrane.
THE Muscle of the palme so called by Laurentius and Bauhine lyeth vppon all the interior Muscles of the Hand. [Ta. 22. fig. 1. 2. Ta. 23. fig. 1. •] It is seated in the cubit and is neruous and round, arising with a neruous begin∣ning from the sharpe poynte of the inner protuberation of the Arme; lea∣neth vppon and groweth to the middest of two muscles which bend the wrist, [Ta. 22. fig. 1. δ θ] and proceede out of the same protuberation with it. Presently after his originall it becommeth fleshy, yet is the belly of it but small, and before it attaine vnto the middle of the cubit it paceth somewhat obliquely, afterward it is againe at∣tenuated and groweth small or slender and determineth into a round, narrow, and long tendon [Ta. 23. fig. 1. μ] which riding ouer the inner Ligament of the wrest, passeth vnder the skinne, and his tendon in the ball or palme of the Hand is dilated, attenuated and gro∣weth to the skinne, yet so that it lyeth not vnder that part of the skinne which couereth the muscles in the hillocke of the thumbe [Ta. 22. fig. 3. vnder p] and those which leade the little finger from the rest. [Tab. 22. fig. 1. and 3. S] Finally, it is ioyned with so strong and fibrous tyes to the rootes of the Fingers, that although there be a certain fat, or substance like vnto it, (of which Galen maketh mention) comming betweene, yet you can scarce se∣parate the skin of the hand from the sinewy thinnesse of this Tendon.
The vse of this muscle is firmely to corrugate or contract the skinne of the palme when we would hold any thing fast, for by that meanes the skinne becommeth immoueable, which if it should moue, we could not hold a thing so steddily or so safely. Haply also this Tendon is the cause why the skin of the palme hath more exact sense then the skin of the whole body: not that so quicke sence is giuen to the hand by this Tendon, but because of the foure nerues which run vnto the foure fingers.
[Table 22. is the same with Table 18. Folio 778.
Fallopius thrice or foure times found this muscle arising out of the same place in each arme double, whereof one did end into abroade Tendon, the other was inserted into the transuerse ligament of the wrest, on the contrary Vesalius saith that hee found more then once the fleshy part thereof wanting, and then the broade Tendon was made of a portiō of those Tendons that bend the wrest, [Tab. 22, fig. 1, δ θ] before they ascend vnto the same. Sometimes also (saith Bauhine) the broade Tendon is produced from an interall transuerse ligament which runneth ouer the Tendons of the wrist, which also Columbus obserued in the dissection of some theeues.
Beside this muscle of the palme in the beginning of the inside of the hand at the low∣er part of the hillocke called by some Mons Lunae, by some Mons Martis, by others Veneris, but we will cal it the Mountaine of the Moone, where the eight bone of the wrist is seated, there is found a certaine flesh. It proceedeth out of the fleshy pannicle, or from the mem∣brane of that muscle which frameth the foresaide Mountaine of the Moone. This flesh carrieth the forme sometimes of two, seldome of three slender and short muscles. It hath transuerse fibres and runneth to the middle and inner part of the ball of the hand, and is implanted at the broade Tendon of the palme muscle, where it receiueth a complication with the fleshy panicle which in that place is fatty. The vse of this flesh is in great con∣tractions of the palme to draw the Mountaine of the Moone to the middle of the hand, when wee would make it as hollow as wee can, or else to binde in the two hillocks at the thumbe and the little finger for the same vse. Of this muscle, if so you will call it, none of the Ancients made mention, but it was first found by Iohannes Baptista Conanus & first de∣scribed in print by Valuerda who yet mistaketh the vse, for he saith it was made for exten∣tion.