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.

Of the Brace or Shin-bone.

The other bone of the Legge is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Fibula, because as in buildings those Irons whereby the beames and pannes are ioyned together are called fibulae or braces, so this les∣ser * 1.1 bone may also be well called the Brace, because it ioyneth together the muscles of the Legge: it is also called canna minor, and in English if you will the Shin-bone. It is seated on the outside of the Leg as the wand is on the outside of the Cubit; aboue it entreth in∣to a plaine and crusted sinus of the Leg-bone [fig. 5, Q] vnder the head thereof; [tab, 24, fig, 1, ^C vnder ^A] below it entreth into a long sinus of the Legge. [fig, 1, from ^• to ^D] At both the ends it is articulated by Arthrodia or adarticulation, whose motion is obscure. In the mid∣dest the two bones doe stand off one from another [figure 2, ^Y betwixt ^V and ^X] that so the muscles of the foote might finde place between them especially in the vpperpart, because there the Leg is bent into a sinus. In this distance there is a membranous ligament which fastneth the skinne and the shanke-bone together. The length of the Brace-bone is equall to the length of the other, for although aboue, it do not ascend into the knee, yet belowe it descendeth lower then the shanke-bone, but in breadth and thicknesse it commeth farre short. Moreouer a little vnder the middest it is somewhat curued toward the Legbone, and the outside is after a sort concauous, [fig, 1, 2, ^Z] yea to say true, the figure of it is not much vnlike the figure of the Leg-bone it selfe.

It hath two heades, one aboue and another below whereto there groweth an Appen∣dix which endeth into an acute processe somewhat exasperated. The vpper of these is * 1.2 below the head of the shanke-bone, [figu, 1, ^C vnder ^A] which is defended with an Appen∣dix * 1.3 and crusted ouer with a gristle: it is round, and on the outside swelleth very notably, [figu, 5, ^{b c}] the better to receiue the rendon of the fourth muscle of the Legge, as also to giue an originall vnto the head of the seauenth muscle of the foote. The Appendix of this head hath on the inside a large and ample sinus [figure 5. Q] crusted ouer with a gristle whereto the head of the Appendix of the Leg-bone is articulated [fig, 4, ^R.]

The lower head tendeth into a sharpnesse [figu, 1, ^•] and descendeth so much lower then the Leg-bone, as the head of the leg-bone ascended aboue the Brace in the top; it is * 1.4 also furnished with one appendix [fig. 1 ^• 2, 5, 6, 9, ⁿ] which growing thick departeth with a processe called the outward ankle, which desendeth somewhat lower then the vtter an∣kle and maketh the externall side [fig. 9. 11. ^h] of the common sinus [fig. 7. ^{d e f g h}] which re∣ceiueth the Talus or bone of the instep, and is crusted ouer with a gristle. This ankle is lo∣wer then the inner, and on the outside gibbous, some part of it also may bee felt without flesh, and from it some muscles of the foote properly so called take their originall, on the inside it hath a rough sinus [fig. 2, 6, 11, ^r] out of which ariseth the gristly Ligament which fastneth the Brace or shin-bone to the instep. Aboue the Ankle there is a sinus [fig. 2, 6, ^q] couered with a transuerse Ligament, where vnder the tendons of the sixt and seauenth muscles of the foote are safely conuayed.

Betwixt these two heads the body of the Brace or shin-bone is vnequall, because of * 1.5 cauities and lines therein made for the insertion of muscles: so that about the middle it

seemeth to be triangular; for before there appeareth an acute and swelling line; [fi, 1. 2. ^ss] behind it is depressed and hath on either hand a strutting line, [fig. 1, 2. 5. 6. ^{tt vv}] and these lines make the three sides of the Brace-bone. [fig, 1, 5, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 α 2, 6. ^β] In like manner at the lower end aboue the appendix [fig. 5. 6. 11 τ] there buncheth out an asperity, at which place by the interposition of a ligament it is fastned to the shanke or leg-bone.

The vse of the Brace-bone is threefold: the first to ioyne the Leg and the Instep, where∣by the foote is bent and extended: secondly to defend the vessels and muscles of the Leg * 1.6 from outward iniuries, for the Brace-bone couereth for the most part the course of them all. Thirdly, to sustaine, strengthen and secure the Legge by fastening it to the outward head of the Thigh-bone. Moreouer, as the wand helpeth to mooue the Hand, so the Brace-bone helpeth to moue the Foot in compasse, saith Archangelus.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The brace bone. His names.
• * 1.2

  His heads
• * 1.3

  the vpper.
• * 1.4

  the lower.
• * 1.5

  the liues,
• * 1.6

  The vse of it.