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 Oesophagus or Gullet. CHAP. X.

NOw although the Oesophagus or gullet is (for the most part of it) scitua∣ted in the Chest or second Region; yet because it is continued with the stomack in substance, membranes and fibres little differing from it, being nothing else, but as it were a production of the same; we will intreate of it in this place, and not in the second Region, the rather because the Table wherein the stomacke is deciphered, contayneth also the delineation of this oesophagus. It is called therefore in Greeke by Hippocrates, Galen, and Aristotle, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which signifieth to carry meat, as also 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the stomack, from words that signifie length and narrownesse. For indeed this name of the stomacke is pro∣per to this part, albeit other authours, especially our English toung hath turned it to signi∣fie the ventricle or place where the meate is contayned; the true stomacke we call the gul∣let: the Arabians call it meri and vescet, the Latins Gula. It is the common way of meat and drinke from the mouth into the ventricle or stomacke as we call it, which all creatures

haue that draw breath. This part taketh his beginning in the lowermost cauitie or hol∣lownesse of the throate, at the rootes of [table 10. figure 1, 2. ^A the orifice of the gullet cut from the throat] the toung behind the larynx or wezon to whom it is tyed, and on either side toucheth the Tonsils or Almonds [tab. 10, fig. 1, ^{E E}] and passing through the necke & the breast, betwixt the wezon and [as appeareth in the table belonging to the chap. of the Lungs, figure 1, 2. where ^A sheweth the gullet, and ^B the arterie] the spondels of the necke and breast vppon which it leaneth; (for it might not passe through the middle cauitie of the brest, lest it should trouble some Instrument of breathing, and beside it stood in need of some setled supporter and that farte within, to leane vnto, that so it might be safe from externall iniuries) it goeth directly [Tab. x. Fig. 1, 2. from ^A to ^B] to the fift Spondell of the breast, where it enclineth it selfe a little to the right side, that it may [Tab. x. Fig. 1. from ^B to ^C] giue way to the trunke of the great Artery descending, which comming out of the left Ventricle of the heart, goeth necessarily to the left side ward. When it hath atteyned to the ninth Spondell, it is lifted aloft by the helpe of certaine Membranes, and passeth a∣boue the great Artery, least in the descending of grosse and thicke meates, it shoulde lye heauy vpon it, and hinder the course of the arteriall blood and spirits. Then againe it en∣clineth to the left side [Tab. x. Fig. 1 from ^C to ^D] where the vppermost mouth [Tab. x. fig: 1, 2 ^G] of the stomacke is scituated, and going vnder the hollow Veine, passeth through the Neruous part of the Diaphragma, by a posterne of his owne into the lower belly, and is im∣planted not into the right, least it should necessarily perforate the Liuer, but into the lefte orifice of the stomacke, together with two Nerues [Tab. x. Fig. 1, 2 ^{T V}.]

In his originall or rising, it is tyed to the throate by a coate that compasseth the mouth, but to the stomacke (where it groweth to the Diaphragma) by the continuation of his body: to the bodies of the Spondels, to the weazon and the parts adioyning, by the helpe of Mem∣branes proceeding out of the Ligaments of the backe.

His figure is round, [Tab. x fig. 1, 2] both that more matter might passe in lesse roome, (for of all figures the round is most capacious) and that it might be safer from iniuries: ve∣ry long it was of necessity to be because the mouth is farre from the stomack; and it may well be called a reddish gut, for after that manner it is distended into a sufficient capacity, that the meate should not stay in it, or pressing the weazon hinder respiration, and put a man in danger of choaking.

The substance of it is in a meane betweene flesh and sinnewes, (wherefore it may bee both enflamed and subiect to convulsion also:) sinnewy or membranous, that it might be extended into length and bredth when the meate is put in, and againe fall, that it take not too much roome when it is empty; fleshy it is also, that being soft it might giue way vnto the meate as it passeth downe. But because as a sacke to be filled with Corne, vnlesse it be held vp and open, doubleth into it selfe when the corne is powred in; so the Gullet being soft, should double into it selfe, when the meate is powred into it; it is supported and held open by his connexion to the bodyes of the Spondels. Hence it is, that lying vppon the long ridge bone when it is affected, we apply Cataplasmes to the ridge of the back. It hath three Coats, one common, and two proper. The first bred out of the Ligaments of the Spondels, which is the Case or couer of the two proper Coates. The second, which is cal∣led the external, is fleshy and very thicke, as if it were a perforated Muscle, and hath his o∣riginall from the second Cartilage of the Weazon, as it lookes toward the necke, & hath onely transuerse Fibres, that with these the Aliment that is drawne by the fibres of the in∣ner coate might be more readily thrust into the stomacke; they are also a great help when the stomack violently laboreth to vomit vp any thing that oppresseth it: which two things are after a diuerse manner performed. For if the fibres do beginne to be contracted aboue, they serue to swallow with: if from the Orifice of the stomacke, for vomiting. The thirde coate is internall, and of a dissimilar substance; vnder or within whose inward superficies, a certaine smooth and slippery veyle or wimple is substrated, hauing right and slender fibres to draw the norishment after the mouth hath receyued it. The remainder of his substance from which that veile or filmy couering like the Cuticle from the skin may be separated, is Neruous and more Membranous then the externall, more harde also and sensible, that the pleasure and good rellish of meates and drinkes may be better apprehended by conta∣ction or touching. This Coate ariseth from that which inuesteth the palate, the mouth, lips, and throate; and runneth as farre as the left Orifice of the stomacke. It hath very few oblong fibres, least they should keepe the meate too long in the gullet, which would haue

beene a great annoyance to the wezon. That these may be the better obserued, they had neede be parboyled, to take away their aboundant moysture.

The act of deglutition or of swallowing, is a worke mixed of an Animal and Natural, & is helped by certaine muscles called oesophagaei, belonging to the gullet; but they are ac∣counted among the muscles of the weazon, which proceeding from the sides of the gristle called Thyroides, doe wholly embrace the gullet; and being parted by a right line, are inser∣ted into his middle part, as we shall see more at large in the booke of muscles.

For the facilitie of swallowing, the cauity of this gullet is alwayes moystned by the glan∣dules that are set neare vnto it. In the throate by the glandules that are common to the gullet and to the wezon, which containe the spattle, and [table 10, figure 1, ^EE] are called Tonsillae or the Almonds; again, by a glandulous body that on the backside, [table 10. fig. 1, 2. ^{F F}] and toward the sides groweth to his middle passage, commonly in a Calfe called the sweet-bread; as well to moysten his cauity and defend him from the hardnesse of the spondels, as also to hold him steady from inclining to either side.

It hath veines, but very few, from the hollow veine and the Coronarie braunch of the [table 10, figure 1. 2. ^{d d}] port or gate veine; Arteries from the great Arteries descending trunke, and from the coronarie branch of the Coeliacall Arterie [table 10. figure 1. 2. ^{d d}.]

His Nerues are very notable, comming from the sixt paire [table 10. figure 1, 2. ^{T V}] which for security sake are carried side-long; (the oblique way being much more safe then the right) for being soft and slender, and to be led a long way, they might easily bee stret∣ched or broken by the waight of the stomacke, if they had been led right on: which nerues when they haue encompassed the gullet round, at length are fastned in the stomacke, [tab. 10. fig. 2. ^{X Y}.]

The vse of this oesophagus or gullet is, that by it as it were by a tunnell, the meate and drinke, a little altered in the mouth, and turned ouer the rootes of the tongue by his muscles to the beginning of this gullet, might by it be receiued, whither when it is ariued, the throat and parts of the gullet aboue the meate closing themselues, and those below being dilated, the meate and drinke are driuen downe into the stomacke.

It is worth the obseruation, that with some men solid bittes finde freer passage then li∣quid drinks or broths, which are often returned into the nose, and this hapneth vsually in those who haue beene long afflicted with the Collicke.

The cause of this accident is to bee imputed to the resolution of the muscles of the choppes, for solid things with their waight offer a kinde of violence to the muscles, and make their owne passage, but liquid things cannot doe so. Although I am not ignorant that there may also be another reason rendred hereof, to wit, a tumor or inflāmation of the glandules before mentioned; for solide meates doe presse them and so open the cauity, to make way for themselues.

Notes

• The reason why we dis∣course of the gullet in this place.
• The names. Hip. lib de re∣sect. corpor. Gal 6. vsu par∣ti. 5. Aristot. 1. hist. Animal 16.
• To what parte it is tied
• The Figure of it.
• The substāce.
• His conexion
• The ξ. coates of the gullet.
• The act of swallowing.
• The Glādules or Tonsils cal¦led the Al∣monds.
• His vessels. Veines. Arteries.
• Nerues.
• The vse of the gullet.
• A pretty ob∣seruatiō with the reason of an vncouth accident.