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. XXIX. Of the substance which commeth betweene the skinne of the palme and of the fingers and their Tendons.

BEtwixt the Tendon and skinne of the Palme and the inner side of the fingers there appeareth a certaine fleshy substance like vnto far, of which it shall not be amisse a little to discourse. Although the whitish colour it hath and the hardnes do more resemble fat then flesh, yet we conceiue that it may more fitly be referred to a kinde of flesh, as well because it is full of sinewy fibres,

as also because there are many small and threddy Veines disseminated there-through. Add also that though a man be neuer so much extenuated or consumed yet there alwaies remaines some part of this substance, whereupon it is that Galen cals it flesh, and the Ara∣bians thought it to be a kinde of simple flesh different from the body of a muscle. It may * 1.1 be obiected how then comes it to be so hard? I answere, by the contaction of the bones and of the Neruous parts which lie vpon it, and therefore it is like the fat which ioyneth vpon the ioynts of the bones. The vse of this substance is to be as it were a pillow or bed whereon the many propagations of sinews might lie soft which were deriued from grea∣ter Nerues to make the hand of exquisite sense. Such a substance also is found betwixte the Tendons that bend the fingers and their skin, least when we are constrained rudely to take hold of any hard substance the tendons should be pressed or otherwise offended, for which cause also it is very plentifull vnder the skin of the soale of the foote, yet it is to bee noted that there is lesse store of it about the Ioynts least it should hinder their Motion, e∣specially when they bend into an acute Angle.

In like manner in the sides of the Fingers, there is some of this flesh to fill vp the spa∣ces * 1.2 betwixt the Ioynts which otherwise would haue bene hollow, because the side knuc∣kles at each bone doe stand somewhat out from the length of the bone, which equalitie was not onely made for ornament but rather and more especially to make the Hande as we say thight, that is able to holde a liquid substance when we gather our Fingers toward the Palme to make Diogenes cup. Finally, this substance is very profitable in the toppes of the fingers for better apprehension, for if nothing had bene placed vpon the extremities of the bones which might yeelde a little when wee offer to take holde; surely the bones would haue bene in danger of breaking, and beside wee could not haue gotten holde of many things which now we do by the helpe of this substance and the Nailes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  That it is flesh not Fat.
• * 1.2

  In what parts of the Finger this substance is.