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 Ligaments of the Spine and the Chest.

THE motions of the Spine are very diuers, and therefore the Rack-bones stood need to be fastned together with ligaments. In these Rack-bones we may ob∣serue their bodies and their processes. In like manner there are two sortes of * 1.1 ligaments, one kinde fastneth the bodies of the spondelles, another their pro∣cesses, and these saith Bauhine are of two sorts, the one is strong and mucous, which com∣passeth the bones and fastneth the whole length of the Spine; in violent motions downe∣ward and great burthens securing it from danger.

The other sort is gristly, and Galen indeed in his Booke de ossibus calleth them Gristles, which kinde goeth betwixt the bodies of the spondels and fastneth them strongly toge∣ther.

It is fibrous and mucous, thicke without, but toward the middest attenuated, and car∣rieth the very forme of the spondell, answerable to it in breadth and length, and determi∣neth into the gristle which is betwixt the spondels.

The ioyntes of the processes are also fastned with common membranous ligaments, the ascendents with the descendents. Furthermore there is another priuate or particu∣lar Ligament and yellowish, arising out of the inside of the hole of the Rack-bone at the roote of the backward processe betwixt two ascending or descending processes, and is a∣gaine inserted into the same place of the subsequent spondell.

In the necke of a Dogge wee meete with a Ligament which is rare indeede but strong and yellow, and cannot be parted into fibres. It groweth out of the very top of the spine of the seauenth Racke of the necke, and ascending vpward free and at liberty is fastned in∣to the top of the second spine of the necke. In sheep it groweth to the Nowle-bone. In beastes of burthen it is very thicke for more strength, and of all the Ligaments of the bo∣dy is refused for meat; yet sayth Vesalius some commend it to be eaten to make the haire grow long. It may be (sayth he) because it is easily dissolued as it were into yellow haire. In some creatures throughout the length of the backe runneth a Ligament on each side betweene the muscles that moue the backe, which sayeth Vesalius, Galen also attributes to men in his bookes de vsu partium.

The Chest also hath his Ligaments for all the ioynts thereof are ioyned with com∣mon * 1.2 membranous Ligaments compassing them about. So the ribbes are fastned to the spondels with strong and almost gristly Ligaments, especially in the first and second rib because of the burthen which they were to beare; likewise in the twelfth, because it is not sustayned with a transuerse processe. The same ribs are ioyned by the mediation of Li∣gaments to the gristles of the breast-bone. The bone also of the Breast it selfe is fastned to the clauicles by the interposition of a proper Ligament.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Liga. of the Spine.
• * 1.2

  Of the chest.