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. XXXIIII. Of the Muscles of the Abdomen or Paunch.

THere bee tenne Muscles which couer the nether Belly, on either side fiue called the Muscles of the Abdomen which are placed in this order. First do * 1.1 appeare two obliquely or sidelong Descending and as many Ascending, which haply may more rightly bee distinguished if they bee called the ob∣lique externall and oblique internall, for they all ascend or descend equally as a mans eye please. Next two Pyramidall, after them two Right Muscles, and last of all two Transuerse or ouerthwart, so called according to the leading of the fibres which doe mutually deuide themselues, as rightly so obliquely and sidelong.

The oblique or sidelong descending, or oblique externall Muscles [Tab. 26. A B] so called of their oblique fibres [Ta. 26. H] are placed in the sides: they are of a Triangle Fi∣gure, and amongst all the Muscles of the Abdomen the greatest and the broadest. These where they are more fleshy proceede from the top of the haunch-bone, [Table 26. ^f] and

from thence haue their strength and firmenesse; more neruous they proceede from the share-bone [Ta. 26. ^g] where they are perforated, and membranous from the membrane * 1.2 springing out of the Ligaments of the spondels or racke-bones of the loynes: and so rise vpward and ending somewhat fleshily do cleaue to seauen, sometimes to eight of the lo∣wer ribs before they determine or end into their gristles.

That they doe arise from below it is manifest, because by all mens consent they serue to dilate the Breast and so helpe Inspiration; and therefore they must end in the Breast and not arise thence from, because it is a ruled Axiom that euery Muscle draweth toward his owne originall not toward his insertion. They are therefore inserted into the great Saw-muscle [Tab. 26. ^ee Ta. 27. ^p Ta. 28. ^ooo] at the 6. 7. 8. and 9. ribs as it were with [Ta. 26. ^bb] a Finger-fould, as also into the lower backe-Saw at the three lowest ribbes: sometimes they are ioyned to the Pectorall muscle with a thin neruous Tendon. Forward they [Ta. 26. ^cc] are carried with a broad neruous and membranous Tendon, and in the middle of the Abdomen doe so mingle themselues at the white Line [Ta. 26. ^ddd] that they make as it were a coate which spreadeth ouer all the Abdomen. These Muscles are ioyned also to those vnder them by the interposition of a slimy substance like fast glew.

This white Line [Tab. 26. ^ddd. Ta. 27. ^cc Ta. 28. ^••] is in the middle of the abdomen, bred out of the concourse or meeting of all the Tendons of these muscles except the right. For * 1.3 the Tendons of the oblique muscles are so closely vnited, that it seemeth but one tendon, and the Tendons of the inferior oblique do grow to the tendons of the transuerse where the right Muscles doe separate themselues, and so meete in one line, into which also the Pyramidall or spiry Muscles are implanted.

This Line beginning at the Sword-like Cartilage or the Brest-blade neruous, passeth vnto the commissure or ioyning together of the share-bones: aboue the Nauell it sprea∣deth it selfe broader, but below it is narrower and is therfore white, because there is no flesh or red foyle vnder it. It serueth to hould together all the Muscles as in a common * 1.4 end or termination, that so the right Muscles might remaine in the right side and the left in the left, and neither bee halled ouer his limits. It hath also sometimes Fatte lying vp∣pon it.

The oblique ascendent [Tab. 26. ^D Ta. 27. i reflected from the abdomen] or oblique in∣ternall * 1.5 muscles which doe intersect the former with their oblique ascendent fibres like S. Andrewes Crosse, or in the manner of the Greeke Letter χ [Table 26. ^IH] doe occupy the middle part of the abdomen, and are of a Triangular Figure. They arise fleshy from the appendixe of the haunch-bone, and membranous from the membrane before named, & * 1.6 the spines of the Holy-bone, and being increased with fleshy fibres and couering the han∣ches doe ascend vpward, and becomming fleshy are knit vnto the gristles of the foure lo∣wer ribbes, and so are brought to the forepart of the abdomen, and end in a broad neruous and membranous Tendon: which when it meeteth with the right [Tab. 27. ^h] Muscles is * 1.7 diuided into two tendons, one of which passeth aboue the right Muscle, the other cree∣peth vnder it (for which cause Galen writeth that the right muscles are not couered with any externall muscle, meaning there by muscle flesh, for that that couers them is indeede but a Tendon:) so that by this imbracement the length of the right Muscles is fortified and kept safe from solution or breaking, and as it were hemmed in the middest of three muscles; where they do not as before couer the muscle after the manner of a membrane, but doe so adhere to the intersections and partitions of the right Muscles, that their ten∣don can be very hardly seuered from them.

Being passed the right Muscles, they againe mingle themselues, are firmely and clos∣ly knit and vnited, and so goe hence away to the white Line [Ta. 27. ^ee] framing as it were another membrane, and aboue doe meete with the sword-like Cartilage or Gristle of the Chest. Below they meete a little vnder the Nauel, but the vpper Tendon is inserted in∣to the share-bones.

These foure Muscles haue Veines and Arteries from the Muscle-veine and Artery, * 1.8 springing about the Loynes which are disseminated through all the region of the Abdo∣men and the Peritoneum or Rimme of the Belly: they receiue nerues also from the last spondels or racke bones of the Chest, which are inserted according as the leadings of the fibres are.

The proper vse of the externall oblique Muscles is, when they worke together ob∣liquely, to compresse the vpper and side parts of the lower belly on either side, and of the

[illustration]

Table 26. Sheweth all the muscles of the lower belly, on the left side the oblique muscles, and on the right side the Piramidall, the right and the transuerse.

[illustration]

TABVLA. XXVI.

• A, The vpper part of the oblique exter∣nall or descending muscle not sepa∣rated, wherein his connexion at b b, with the Saw-muscle at e e is decla∣red, and his implantation at C C into the white line at d d.
• B B, The lower part of the oblique de∣scending muscle separated from the white line at d.
• C C, His tendon.
• D, The oblique descending muscle.
• E E, the right muscle on the right side, from which both the oblique muscles are remoued, 1, 2, 3, The intersecti∣ons of the right muscles.
• F, the Piramidal muscle on the right hād, for both the left & the right pyramidal muscles are vnder the oblique.
• f, The fleshy originall of the oblique externall muscles from the haunch bone.
• g, Their beginning from the share-bone as also the Piramidall muscles original.
• G G, The transuerse muscle.
• H H, The fibres of the oblique ascen∣ding muscle.
• I, The fibres of the oblique descending muscle that so the decussation may appeare.
• K K, The fibres of the transuerse mus∣cle.

oblique Internall in like manner to compresse the lower and side parts: but wee must not conceiue that all the lower belly is by these muscles compressed, because their Tendons reach but a little below the Nauill. The compression is therefore made on either side but to the top of the groyne, for they are inserted into the gristly and moouable partes of the Ribbes.

The Pyramidall Muscles, so called from their forme like a Pyramis or Broch, arising from the outside of the sharebone [Ta. 26. ^F Ta. 27, ^g] with a fleshy and narrow beginning * 1.9 siding together like two parts of a spire, (for they are seldome so vnited that they make but one muscle) doe clime with oblique fibres ouer the heads of the right muscles from whom they are distinguished by a peculiar membrane and different fibres; and do end in the white line (neuer in the right muscles) with an acute tendon of their owne, but one longer then another; neyther in length exceeding the breadth of foure fingers: but these * 1.10 though they be most commonly seene in dissections, yet in many bodies they are wan∣ting, although Fallopius neuer dissected body but he found them.

The vse of these spiry muscles is to compresse the bladder, for if one of them work alone, it draweth the white line obliquely downeward. If they worke together, they * 1.11 draw it directly downeward, and so compresse a part of the groine and the bladder there∣vnder, when we make water at leysure. For if wee force our water with any violence, then the other muscles of the Abdomen doe also helpe, pressing the whole paunch & with it the bladder. And if we marke our selues in such strainings we shall manifestly perceiue, that the Abdomen is contracted downeward; and hence it is that they are also called Suc∣centuriati the assistant muscles because they helpe all the rest.

And if at any time (as it happeneth but seldome) these pyramidall muscles bee wan∣ting, then the oblique ascendents doe not take their first originall from the appendix of the haunch-bone, but lower from a strong ligament which runneth from the aforesaid ap∣pendix vnto the share-bone, and then they vrge obliquely downeward what soeuer is vn∣der

the groyne as is the bladder of vrine. They also adde strength to the heads of the right muscles to which also they serue as a defence. Whereuppon some haue imagined them (though fasly) to be another originall of the right muscles. For if wee gently auoide our vrine neyther the inspiration nor expiration is interrupted, which it certainely would be if they were parts of the right muscles, because when the right muscles are contracted, the chest also is compressed, whence it would follow that when by the contraction of these muscles we would exclude our vrine, we cannot draw in breath till wee remit or loosen the intention of the muscles.

The Right muscles [Tab. 26, ^••. Tab. 27, ^a. Tab. 28, they hang downe and are marked with ^II.] haue their name both from their right fibres, and because they are placed accor∣ding * 1.12 to the straight length of the body: they are situated vnder the neruous thinnesse of the oblique, and in some places ioyned vnto them: they occupy the higher place, where∣vpon * 1.13 their tumors being longer then round, may easily be distinguished from the tumors of other parts by their position. Their originall is neruous from the fore and vpper [ta. 27, bb, Tab. 28, charact. ^{1 2}.] part of the share-bone, (not from the brest because the bones * 1.14 of the share, hips and haunches are not moued) but presently they become more fleshie, * 1.15 and climing ouer the belly about the nauill do seeme as it were to bee vnited [Tab. 27, ^f] which yet is but the vicinity of their originall: but by how much they ascend higher by so much are they more seuered [Tab. 27, ^{c c}] and grow broader, and doe at length grow to the Cartilages or gristles of the lowest true ribs at the sides of the brest-bone with a fle∣shy and ample insertion. [Tab. 27, ^cc.] They are fleshy and strong the better to compresse * 1.16 the foreside of the Abdomen, and haue three seldome foure intersections or partitions ve∣ry neruous and transuerse or ouerthwart [Tab. 26, charact. 1, 2, 3, Tab. 27, ^ddd] as it were banked or knotted asunder, so that they seeme to be not one, but many paire of right mus∣cles, diuided and distinguished by the tendring or oblique bending of their fibres to these surfled intersections.

These intersections are firme and solid membranes, whereof one is vnder the Nauill, two and sometimes three aboue it; all which are ordained eyther to strengthen the mus∣cle which is appointed for especiall hard imployment, perticularly in deepe expirations; or else that being obliquated or shelued after the round figure of the Abdomen and fastened with the tendons of the oblique ascendents they might more closely presse the Peritonaeū.

[illustration]

Table 27. Sheweth the Right, the Transuerse, and the Pyramidall Muscles.

[illustration]

TABVLA. XXVII.

• A A, The right muscles of the Abdomen.
• b b, Their neruous originall.
• c c, their implantation.
• d d d d d d, their intersections.
• e e, the white line where the right muscles doe de∣part one from another.
• f, the coniunction of the right muscles vnder the Nauill.
• g, The Piramidall muscles.
• h, the membrane of the oblique ascending muscle which cleaueth fast vnto the tendon of the trās∣uerse muscle & so attaineth vnto the right mus∣cle.
• i, the oblique ascending muscle here reflected from the Abdomen.
• k k, the production of the Peritonaeum or rim of the belly with the seede vessels.
• l l l, the transuerse muscles:
• m, the groynes.
• n, the circles which shew the bodies of the yard cut away.
• o, the share-bone without flesh.
• p p, the greater Saw-muscle.
• q, the lesser Saw-muscle.
• r s, t, His amplitude and fastening to the ribs.

um. They haue veines which we call Recurrents, and arteries from the Epigastricke [tab. 28. ¹¹. fig. 2. ^b] (from which also branches are sent to the neck of the womb) diuided into many surcles or tendrils for their nourishment and life. VVhich being led vpward vnder their bodyes are about the nauell, [tab. 28. fig. 2. ^cc.] ioyned with the internall māmary or pap [tab. 28. fig. ^K• fig. ^a.] veynes (which descend vnder the brest bone) by Anastomosis, that is, inoculation of their extremities.

VVhich Anastomosis or kinde of vnion is the reason of the great consent betweene the * 1.17 wombe and the paps, the Abdomen and the nosthrils. This consent of the wombe with the paps, is also increased by certaine internal veins, one called the Axillarie which goeth vn∣to the paps, and by the branches of the Hypogastricall, which are distributed vnto the wombe. [Tab. 28. is the same with Tab. 5. in the 2. Booke, fol. 78.]

They haue sometimes foure nerues most what proceeding out of the middest of the last spondels or rackbones of the chest and so reaching to their hanked or surfled in∣tersections or distinctions. Their proper vse is to driue the highest and middle part of * 1.18 the lower belly not downeward but directly to the spine, to compresse it and to presse downe the lower parts of the chest by drawing them directly downeward. They helpe vs also in violent Expirations.

The transuerse or ouerthwart muscle, [Tab. 26. ^{G G}. tab. 27. ¹¹¹. and tab. 28. ^M. a part of * 1.19 it is reflected,] is placed ouerthwart the belly, and so named from the transuerse [tab. 26. ^{K K}.] fibres which run through the bredth of their bodyes. These are vndermost and doe a∣rise neruous from the inward endes of the bastard ribs, and the membrane twice before spoken of, and are inserted, being become more fleshy to the hanch bones, [Tab. 28. ^N. where the hanche bones is bared, at which the transuerse and oblique muscles do meete and are implanted,] which after they haue inuested and attained to the vtmost sides of the right muscles toward the middle of the Abdomen they couer all the rest of it with a brode neruous and membranous tendon like that of the oblique muscle, and tend vpward to the swordlike cartilage or brest blade, forward to the right line and downeward to the groyne, and doe so closely adhere or cleaue to the peritonaeum, that in a man they can scarse be cleanly separated from it, but in the groyne this Aponeurosis or brode tendon for∣saketh the peritonaeum or rime, and leaueth it bare.

Their vessels they receiue like their oblique muscles. Their proper vse is to compresouer∣thwart the middle and laterall partof the lower belly, and especially the collicke gut. The tendons of these as also of the oblique muscles are perforated at the exiture of the nauell to giue way to the vmbilical or nauel vessels, & again, on both sides neare the share bone, that the preparing vessels of seede may descend through them to the testicles, and the e∣iaculatory may ascend to the prostates which are annexed to the necke of the bladder. Through these perforations [tab. 28. * *.] the inward coate of the peritonaum being bro∣ken, or by stretching being dilated, the guts or the Kell slipping downe, cause the Hernia or Rupture. Beside those perforations common to both sexes, they are also bored in women for the passage of those sinewy processes which are called Cremasteres, which doe reach vnto the vtter part of the lappe, whereupon women are troubled with the Bubono∣cele, and of it are cured by section.

That the transuerse haue an inward situation, the right a middle, and the oblique an externall; a reason may be giuen from the Chyrurgicall deligations or ligatures, because ouerthwart bandes doe presse or constraine more then right, and right more then ob∣lique * 1.20 or side bands.

All these muscles of the Abdomen whose substance is partly membranous partly fleshy that they might be stronger for motion haue this common vse with other muscles, that whilest they are at rest they serue for a muniment or defence vnto the parts subiected vnder them, beside they contayne or hold the inward parts within their precinct, and * 1.21 keepe the body warme.

Particularly when they are together contracted toward their originals, and curued inward, the soft entrals giuing way vnto them, and are helped by the midriffe, depressed vpon the retention of the breath, then doe they equally and all ouer compresse the lower belly, (for if they worke seuerall, they presse sometimes one part, sometimes another) by which compression the excrements which are violently thrust downe into the great guts and there retayned at the fundament by the sphincter muscle are thrust out by a reclusion or opening of the passage and a relaxation of that sphincter, and there

thereupon they be called the instruments of Excretion by Galen in the 15. chapter of his fifth booke de vsu partium. But because the compression is equall from euery part, these excrements should as well be pressed vp to the stomach, as downe to the fundament, sa∣uing that the midriffe by his oblique situation and the breath retayned, doth driue them downward and helpe Excretion. They assist the Mother also in the time of the birth, by constringing or binding the Hypochondria and by drawing downe the ribs. They help also the motions of the Chest, for sayeth Galen in the 14. chapter of the fift booke de vsu partium, they forme the voyce, serue to Inspiration and Expiration and in strong Efflati∣ons, as when a man windeth a Horne: yea sayeth Galen they helpe vs also to hould our breath.

Wherefore because these Muscles doe night and day assist the breast in Respiration and the lower belly but at sometimes when wee would vnburthen it, therefore they may be thought to be principally ordayned for the motion of the Chest. Againe, because the Chest hath many other Muscles which doe distend and contract it, but the lower belly these alone; it may therefore bee imagined that their primary vse is to bee referred to the lower belly, their secondary to the Chest.

Finally, if each Muscle worke by it selfe, then the oblique descendent drawes the haunch obliquely to his owne side, the right to the right side, the left to the left: the ob∣lique * 1.22 ascendent leadeth the chest obliquely to the haunches; the transuerse drawes the paunch, the right into the right side, the left into the left.

It is also worthy obseruation that the figure of these Muscles whether they labour or rest at quiet, is other and different from the figure of other muscles: for these of the abdo∣men * 1.23 before they worke are crooked, & in their contraction hauing soft bodies vnder them they are bended or crooked inwarde: all other muscles whilest they are at rest are right, when they labour they are curued and bent outward, because of the bones a amst which otherwise they should offend. And thus much of the Muscles of the Abdomen: now we proceed vnto the backe.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The order of the muscles of the Abdomen.
• * 1.2

  Their situatiō
• * 1.3

  The white line.
• * 1.4

  The vse.
• * 1.5

  The oblique internall.
• * 1.6

  Their original
• * 1.7

  Their tendōs.
• * 1.8

  Their vessels.
• * 1.9

  The Pyrami∣dal muscles
• * 1.10

  They are oftē wanting.
• * 1.11

  The vse of the spiry muscles.
• * 1.12

  The right muscles.
• * 1.13

  Their tumors how knowne.
• * 1.14

  Their original
• * 1.15

  and insertion.
• * 1.16

  Their inter∣sections.
• * 1.17

  Anastomosis what it is.
• * 1.18

  The vse of the right muscle.
• * 1.19

  The transuers muscles.
• * 1.20

  The reason of their situation from their vse
• * 1.21

  The vse of the muscles of the Abdomen, in generall
• * 1.22

  The worke of each muscle alone,
• * 1.23

  Their figure why differing from other muscles.