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. VIII. Of the Veynes disseminated through the Braine.

THE inner Iugular veine when it attaineth on the backside to the Basis of * 1.1 the Scul, is diuided into two branches wherof the one which being the lar¦ger is carried backward, the other which is the smaller is carried forward,

The first is led along the basis of the Scull with the lesser branch of the sleepy artery, and when it hath affoorded surcles to the Muscles which lie * 1.2 vnder the gullet, it getteth into the scull and so into the sinus of the Dura mater, through the first hole of the Nowle-bone which was prepared for the sixt paire of sinewes.

The second which leaueth the sleepy Artery, runneth forwarde after it hath sent a sur∣cle to the organ of Hearing through the fourth hole of the Temple bone, it entreth into the scull by the seuenth hole of the Wedge-bone and walketh through the basis and the * 1.3 sides of the Dura mater or thicke membrane leading them Aliment, because they are far distant from the third sinus: from these also do yssue some surcles which creepe vppe the Pia Mater.

Bauhine accounteth the third veine of the braine to bee the inner branch of the ex∣ternall Iugular which diuideth it selfe into three surcles, and entereth into the scul by the * 1.4 hole of the temple-bone which is neere the Mammillary processe, of which wee spake in the former chapter.

The fourth and the fift Veynes of the Braine he saith do proceede from the same in∣teriour * 1.5 branch of the externall iugular, the fourth entreth into the scull out of the orb of the eye by the second hole of the VVedge-bone, the fift out of the capacity of the Nose∣thrils by the hole of the sciue or spongy bone. The vse of these two latter Veins is to nou∣rish the fore-part of the Braine, because vnto it the third sinus dooth not reach but deter∣mineth neere the distinction of the Mammillary processes. These Veynes also because they are small haue no Arteries ioyned with them, yet there is a surcle sent thither from the first artery of the Braine.

Beside these fiue Veines Vesalius and platerus affirme, that there is another which they call The first Veine of the Braine, which is the end of the Neck-veine. For when the Neck-veine commeth vnto the top of the necke that which remaineth of it, together with the * 1.6 Artery his companion, passeth through the third hole of the Nowle-bone, which postern was particularly made for this priuat vse: or if that be wanting through the second, which was made for the seuenth paire of sinewes, and determineth on both sides into the sinus of the Dura Mater.

Bauhine ingenuously confesseth, that he could neuer finde this passage & yet makes mention of it, because other men should not want occasion to enquire after it. For saith he, the Necke-veine is partly consumed or taken vp in the perforations of the rackbones of the necke, yet so that it touch not the first racke: partly his braunches are disseminated into the backside of the neck, hauing first transmitted somevnto the Muscles in that place as we are taught by Falopius, which Veynes are vnited together among themselues, and together also with others which are sent out of the sinus of the Dura mater, through the * 1.7 large hole of the scull, for there are many veines which from the Dura Meninx are propa∣gated to the outside of the head through the Sutures comming from without: which saith

Falopius gaue occasion to some to thinke that they were outwarde veines which went in through the holes of the Scull into the sinus of the Dura Mater, whereas they are rather internall Veines which get out at those holes and are ioyned with the externall.

The vse of the veines of the Braine which are in innumerable multitudes disseminated into both parts thereof and into his marrow (and although some of them be so smal, that * 1.8 he which is not quick-sighted cannot perceiue them, som of them conspicuous enough) the vse I say of them all is three-fold. The first to minister vnto the Braine his Aliment, that is Blood, and that in great aboundance, because the quantity of the Braine is great. And truly that there is abundance of Blood in the head dooth easily appeare in dissecti∣ons after inflammations of the Braine.

Their second vse is to transmit vnto the braine naturall spirite from the Liuer for the nourishment of the Naturall spirit which is in the Braine.

The third, that together with the naturall spirit the naturall soule, which is called also Vegitatiua or the growing faculty, might be conducted into the braine, for because in the braine there is a faculty to draw, retaine, concoct and expell the Aliment or superflui∣ties thereof, it is very necessary that it also should haue in it the Naturall Soule either of it selfe or deriued from other where. But because the seate of the naturall soule is con∣cluded to be in the Liuer, it must needs follow, that it can no otherwise be conueyed to the braine but through the veines. * 1.9

Archangelus addeth a foutth vse of these veines of the Braine, and that is, that by the veines as also by the Arteries, the seede might be made fruitfull. For Hippocrates sayth in his booke de Genitura, that those are barren and vnfruitfull whose Veines behinde their eares are cut or diuided, and his reason was because he thought that a great parte of the feede fell neere the eares from the head into the spinall marrow. But if the passage bee stopped vp by a Cicatrice growing vpon the wound of the vessell, then shall the current of the seede be interrupted.

Concerning which difficulty and the interpretation of Hippocrates meaning, wee haue disputed at large in the fourth question of the fift booke, and therefore we will not trouble the reader heere with fruitelesse repition, but send him thither if he desire to bee further satisfied concerning that matter.

Beside the veines and other vessels of the braine. It hath a priuate vessell which is cal∣led * 1.10 the sinus of the hard membrane; full of blood, but beating like an Artery, into which three Veynes and two Arteries do powre their matter, which sinus according to the di∣uers course and inclination thereof is diuided into foure sinus: greater indeede then the veines that attaine vnto the scull and more capacious, not round but triangular. The whole sinus consisteth of three ribbes all of equall longitude, and of the fourth part of a circle incurued. From these do arise branches or passages like vnto veines, and doe di∣stribute blood as well Vitall as naturall into the substance of the braine. But because wee haue entreated sufficiently hereof in our chapter of the membranes of the braine which is the seauenth of the seuenth Booke, where also we haue exhibited the figure therof vn∣to you, wee will heere put an end to the veines of the Brain, and passe on vnto the veines of the Arme.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The inner Iu∣gular.
• * 1.2

  The first of the Braine.
• * 1.3

  The second.
• * 1.4

  The third.
• * 1.5

  The 4 and 5,
• * 1.6

  Vesalius and Platerus add a fixt.
• * 1.7

  Falopius.
• * 1.8

  The vse of the Veynes of the Braine.
• * 1.9

  Archangelus.
• * 1.10

  The sinus of the Braine.