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. VI. Of the Nature, Vse and differences of Ligaments.

AS the lubricity of Gristles makes the motion of the Bones more nimble and quicke: so the Ligaments doe secure both motion & articulation: but there is a double acception of a Ligament, the * 1.1 one large, the other presse and more restrained. In the first Sense we call any thing a Ligament which tyeth one part to another. So Hippocrates calleth the skin and the flesh colligations, the ancients also called all manner of vesselles Veines, Arteries and Sinnewes. Common Ligaments. In the presse and strict signification wee call that a Ligament which is a hard and firme body, yet laxe and flexible and without sense, which incompasseth, tyeth downe and contayneth the ioynts.

This kinde of Ligament properly so called, the Grecians call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Latins co∣pula, vinculum & Ligamentum, wee may call it a Tie, but because the worde Ligament is growne into common vse, we will if you please retayne it for the most part, Laurentius gi∣ueth * 1.2 this definition of a Ligament. It is a similar cold and dry part, of a middle nature be∣twixt a Nerue and a Gristle (betwixt a Membrane and a Gristle sayth Bauhine) ingendred by the power of heat out of the slimy part of the Seede, and being of great vse in colliga∣tion, contayning, inuesting and forming of Muscles. Concerning the Temper of a Li∣gament (which is the forme of the similar part) all men do agree that it is cold and dry, al∣beit some peculiar ligaments of ioyntes are lined ouer with a mucous and slimy humour, but concerning those things which accompany, follow and happen to the temper many haue made scruple: hardnesse and softnesse followe the temper, sense and motion happen vnto it. We resolue that Ligaments are of a middle Nature betwixt Gristles and Mem∣branes harder then Membranes; least in vehement motions they should bee broken, and softer then Gristles, that they might more easily follow and obey the Muscles which moue the bones. For the most part they are all insensible, as well because they receiue no Nerues into them, as also least being perpetually moued they should breed perpetuall payne.

It may be obiected that Galen in his 3. booke de facultat. natural. sayth that Ligaments consist of sensible fibres, but we must know that by sensible in that place Galen vnderstan∣deth not that which hath Sense, but that which is liable to Sense, not that which is sensa∣tiue but that which is sensible. For Ligaments borrow nothing from the brayne, and therefore haue no sense, neither can they mooue themselues, notwithstanding as among the bones the Teeth haue sense, among the gristles those that make the Eye-liddes, so a∣mongst the Ligaments there are some which haue the sense of touching, as the two liga∣ments that make the yarde, and the reyne or bridle of the Tongue

The matter of Ligaments is the slimy part of the seed extended or lengthned by heat, * 1.3 whence it is that they can bee contracted and againe relaxed. Their Aliment I doe not take to be (sayth Laurentius) as some would, marrow, but bloud conuayed vnto them by Capillary veines, which are so little that they cannot be perceiued.

The vses of Ligaments are diuers, the first and most common is to firme and assure * 1.4 the articulations, especially those that are more laxe of the bones and the gristles and to hinder luxation, for it was to be feared that when the bones are separated in violent mo∣tions they should be also distracted, vnlesse the wisedome of Nature had prouided to tye their extremities together with strong and straite bonds. These Ligaments which per∣forme this vse are either common which compasse the ioynt round about, or priuate. The common are thin and membranous, the proper are thicker and most what round.

Their second vse is to bind and fasten the bones where they are not articulated, for there are thinne and fine Ligaments which tye the cubite to the Radius and the Legge to the Brace where they gape asunder, as also the spines of the spondels.

The third vse is that which Galen remembreth, who sayeth they serue for an outward garment to defend the tendons. So the tendons which bend and extend the Fingers & the Toes are throughout their whole length couered with Ligaments & with mēbranes.

Adde hereto the fourth to contayne the Tendons in their owne places, to establish them and safely to transmit them from one place to another. Such are the Transuerse Li∣gaments of the wrest, round like a ring and therefore called Annularia.

Fiftly, they are interposed like a pillow betwixt the bones and the Tendons, that the hardnes of the bones should not offend the tender and sensible tendons.

Sixtly to discriminate or separate the right muscles from the left, the fore muscles from the hinder, and other parts one from another as we may see in the Ell and the Wand, in the Leg and the Brace.

Seauently to encrease and augment as do the gristles the Cups of the bones.

Eightly, to suspend the bowels that they should not fall with their great waight. Such are the Ligaments of the Liuer, the Bladder and of the Wombe.

Finally, they concurre vnto the structure of a muscle, for of the fibres of a nerue and a ligament mixed together is a tendon made.

The differences of Ligaments are to be taken from their substance, magnitude, figure, * 1.5 site, originall, insertion, vse, and from their principall parts. From the substance some are soft, some hard, some membranous, that is, like vnto membranes, because they be broade. Some are neruous, that is, round like nerues, some are gristly. From the magnitude some are little some are great, some are broade and some are narrowe. From the figure some are broade some are round, some are continuall some are perforated, some are transuerse and annular and some are long and direct. From their situation they are supernall infer∣nall, right left, fore and backe Ligaments.

From their originall and insertion their diuision is very elegant, some arise from bones, some from gristles, & some from membranes. Those which arise from bones are inserted either into a bone or into a gristle, or into the heads of muscles, or into some other part. Of those which arise from a bone and are inserted into a bone, some do firme the ioynts, others tie the two bones together without a ioynt, others defend and inuest the tendons. Those which arise from a bone and are inserted into a gristle doe appeare in the knee, one from the internall roote of the inner Cup, the other placed vnder it. Those that are inser∣ted into the heades of muscles are very diuers, some grow out of bones and runne into o∣ther parts, as that double Ligament which maketh the greatest part of the yarde, and ari∣seth out of the share-bones. Those Ligaments that arise out of gristles are some of them inserted into gristles; such are they that tye together the gristles of the Larynx; they that are in the end of the Rump and those that tye together the halfe circles of the Rough ar∣tery; others are inserted into the heads of muscles, as those that runne into the proper muscles of the Larynx. Those ligaments that arise from membranes are but few.

From the vse you may gather diuers differences of Ligaments according to the vses before named.

Finally, from the principal or more notable parts of the body we may very fitly deuide Ligaments into those of the Head, those of the Chest and Back, and those of the Ioynts, according to which diuision we will now prosecute their particular History.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A double ac∣ception of a ligament.
• * 1.2

  The definiti∣on of a liga∣ment.
• * 1.3

  The matter of ligaments,
• * 1.4

  Their vses.
• * 1.5

  The differen∣ces of liga∣ments.