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. II. Of the Omentum or Kall.

THE Kall or Kell which is deciphered in the sixt Table of the second booke, * 1.1 and in the first and second of this third booke, is called Omentum, as it were Operimentum, that is a couering: of the Greeks 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to swim vpon, because it swimmeth vppon the bottome of the stomacke [Table 2 ^bb] and the vppermost guts [Table 2 ^cc.] From the wandring and implicated passages of his vessels, which may be likened to a fishers net [Table 1. Figure 1. and 2.] it

[illustration]

Table 1. Lib. 3. The first figure sheweth the Kall or Omentum, whole and loosed on euery side, resem∣bling a Satchell, or a small fishers Net, with the course of the Veines, Arteries, & Sinewes, running through it. The second figure contayneth the lower membrane of the Omentum, the vpper being remooued with the Collicke gut which it contayneth and the vessels.

[illustration]

FIG: I.

[illustration]

FIG: II.

• aaaaaa. The outward face of the vpper membrane of the Kail.
• bbbb. The circle or girdle of the kall at which it growes.
• ccc. The vpper part of the lo∣wer membrane aboue the colon.
• def. Sheweth the membrane, vessels, and fat of the Omentū.
• g. The trunke of the gate veine where it commeth out of the Liuer.
• h. An arterie with a nerue rea∣ching to the hollownesse of the liuer, and the bladder of gall.
• i. A vessell comming to the py∣lorus, especially on the back∣part, hauing an artery his cō∣panion.
• kk. A vessell with a nerue which goeth to the right bottom of the stomack.
• llmm. Braunches inwrapping the body of the stomacke from a vessell marked with k which also goe through the vpper mēbrane of the kal mm.
• n A vessell reached out to the duodenum, and to the begin∣ning of the empty gut, of∣tentimes hauing a small nerue to beare him company.
• o The diuision of the gateveine into the right and the lefte branch.
• p The right branch running in∣to the mesēterium & the guts
• q A veine going to the backe∣parts of the stomacke.
• s A veine imbracing the lefte mouth of the stomacke, in manner of a crowne.
• t The artery of the mesen∣tery.
• u An artery going to the lower mēbrane of the kal,
• x A vessel sent with a nerue to the colon and to the lower membrane of the kall.
• x A vessel going to the lo∣wer Omentum.
• yy The course of the ves∣sels of the spleene from the spleenicke branch.
• z A branch reaching to the left bottom of the sto∣macke.
• aaaa The Pācreas or sweet∣bread vnder the vessels and the duodenum.
• ...The second Figure.
• A A The vpper part of the lower kal arising from the back, which behind is vnder the stomacke, & with twoe membranes comprehendeth or em∣braceth the colon at the bottom of the stomack.
• B A veine comming from the left trunk of the gate veine and the arterie, with a nerue for the most part tied vp to it, going into the kall.
• C A notable veine and an arterie communicated to the kall and the collicke gutte, to which a small nerue is added in some steads,
• D A veine running along the left side of the kall. E. The right side of the collicke gut which lyeth vnder the hollownes of the liuer here cut away. F. The left side of the collicke gutte which lyeth vpon the spleene. GG, A part of the collick gut running along vnder the bot∣tom of the stomacke. HHH. The lower part of the inner kall arising in some sort from the col∣lick gut. III. The remayning portions of the vpper membrane of the kall torne off, that it may be showne how the kall may be compared to a satchell or bagge.

is called rete or reticulum, for that sayth Archangelus, as a net intangleth the fishes, so in * 1.2 this Membrane the Fatty vapours are intercepted and stayed. The Arabians call it Zir∣bus, the Latines Mappaventris, the dish-clout or map of the Belly, because it licketh vp the superfluities thereof. All the sanguine or bloudy parts almost are couered heerewith, but ouer some it is more fatty, ouer others more membranous. Amongst all creatures it is greatest in Men and Apes; and of Men, those that liue a sedentarie and idle life, sacrifi∣cing to their appetites, haue it so great, that it becommeth a burthen vnto them, where∣upon they are called Epiploocomistae, that is, Kal-carriers; but those that vse great exercises, * 1.3 as Hunters and such like, haue it more membranous, and lesse fatty.

It is a large membrane, scituated before vpon the bottome of the stomacke, [Table 6. * 1.4 ^PP Lib. 2.] and downeward ouer the guts [Table 6. ^XXXX Lib. 2.] vnto the Nauill. Some∣times, but seldome, and that in Apes and Dogges it is stretched euen vnto the sharebone; and vsually in dissections it is obserued to bee rowled vp, or doubled towards the spleene, not onely in such as are hanged or drowned sayeth Vesalius, but also in those that die of o∣ther * 1.5 ordinary diseases, or come to their ends by sodaine mischances. Sometimes also it insinuateth it selfe into the conuolutions or windings of the guts, and sometimes in Wo∣men it passeth betweene the bottomes of the wombe and the bladder, and by streightning the mouth of the wombe becommeth an ordinary, but yet not a perpetuall cause of bar∣rennesse or sterility, as also Hippocrates obserued in his book de natura Muliebri. In some women after their trauell, it remayneth gathered together about the middle of their Bel∣lies, * 1.6 and there is the cause of sore paynes. But if it fall into the passage that descendeth in∣to the Cod, it causeth a soft rupture, which disease no creature is subiect vnto but Men & Apes, as sayeth Galen in the third Chapter of his sixt booke de administrationibus Anato∣micis. * 1.7

It is fastned alwayes to the stomacke [Table 6. ^MNO Lib. 2.] to the Spleen and the Col∣licke * 1.8 gut [Table 1. Figure 2. ^GGHH] to other parts sometimes it is ioyned, sometimes it is free from them, for it behooued not sayth Galen in the 11. chapter of the fourth booke de vsu partium; that it should hang loosely, least it should be crumpled together, and should leaue many parts vncouered, which stand in neede of his warmth.

The forme of it is likest to a Purse-net or Faulkners bagge, [Table 1. Fig. 1. and 2. ^II] * 1.9 consisting of a double membrane knit together in the bottome; Columbus sayth, but on∣ly reflexed or turned backe againe. It hath a round orifice [Table 1. Figure 1. ^bb] which as∣cendeth higher in the hinder part then before, and belowe it is round [Table 1. Figure 1. and 2.]

It is compounded of membranes and vessels, and a muddy and easily putrifying Fatte, * 1.10 which composition Galen expresseth vnder the name of his originall, in the place next a∣boue named. The Membranes are two (whence of some it is called a double Peritonaeum) * 1.11 and those very fine and smooth (least the guts should bee ouer burdened with his waight) lying one vpon the top of another; the vpper is called the vpper wing, the lower the lower wing [Table 2. ^cc.] The vpper and formost ariseth at the bottome of the stomacke [Tab. 2. ^aa. ^bb.] from the Peritonaeum which compasseth it about, and maketh his third coat, and is ioyned in a right line, with a portion of the inferiour membrane in the hollow parts of the Liuer and the spleene. The lower and hind-most wing ariseth from the Peritonaeum at the backe [Table 1. figure 1. ^ccc] presently vnder the midriffe; and being led to the hollow side of the Liuer, it cleaueth (yet but seldome) to a part of it, as also to the midriffe, to the right side of the stomacke, almost to the whole gut called duodenum, and to the hollowe part of the spleene; and groweth fast to the stomacke, and to the collicke gut, [Table 1. * 1.12 figure 1. ^GG] all the way the same is annexed to the bottom of the stomacke, so that to that gut it is as it were [Table 1. figure 2. ^HH] a mesenterie. In Dogs it is neither tyed to the Colon, nor to any other gut; in Apes onely to the right part of the Colon.

Many veines (but onely from the port veine) passe through both his wings. Through * 1.13 the vpper from two veines which passe by the bottome of the stomacke (which are called the right and the left [Tab. 3. ^H and ^X] Gastra epiplois) infinitely propagated obliquely down∣ward [Table 1. figure 1. ^{kk mm}.] Through the lower wing from those veines which passe in∣to the spleene [Table 1. fig. 1. ^ux figure 2. ^BCD] which are diuersly spread, sometimes with a foure-fold branch (as in the history of the Port veine shall be sayd) for the nourishment of the adiacent parts.

They are sprinkled with so many Arteries [Table 1. figure 1. ^u figure 2. ^c] from the Cae∣liacall * 1.14

[illustration]

TABVLA II.

[illustration]

The lower belly, with the vpper Membrane of the Kall torn vp, and turned aboue the outside of the Chest and the sto∣macke; the stomack also remo∣ued out of his seat to the Chest, that the lower Membrane of the kall might the better bee perceiued; as also the guts re∣mayning in their naturall po∣sition, and a part of the spleen, are herein deciphered.

• aaaa. The inside of the vpper membrane of the kal, which some call alam superiorem the vpper wing.
• bb. The stomack strutting out couered with the vpper membrane of the kall.
• cc. The lower membrane of the kall, or his nether wing gathered vpward
• d Vessels passing to the spleen which appeareth bunching vnder the Omentum at b.
• e The trunke of the gate vein.
• f The spleenick branch of the port veine.
• g The bladder of vrine.
• h The seate of the spleen.
• i The vessels called Vrachos, by which the Infant is nouri∣shed in the wombe.
• kk The 2. vmbilicall arteries.

& mesenterical branches to giue them life; but their nerues from the Ribbe-branch [Table 1. fig. 1.] of the sixt payre are wondrous small, but finely scattered that they might * 1.15 not be altogether without sence.

The Fat is very plentifull about the vessels [Table 1. figure 1. ^{d e f}] but in the distances betwixt them, none at all. In an ordinary fat man it may amount to a pound, or a pound * 1.16 and a halfe; and amongst it do runne innumerable glandules or kernels, which sucke vp the faeculent moysture, which is separated in the first concoction. Wherefore seeing it is not ingendered of any portion of the bloud, as that fat called pinguedo, or as other fats, therfore it easily putrifieth, so that if vppon a wound it fall out of the body, it becommeth presently rotten, which hapneth not to the other fats vnder the skin, or in other parts.

The vse of the Fat of the Kall, is to cherish and to comfort the bottome of the stomack, (for the vpper part thereof is warmed by the Liuer which lyeth vppon it, and therefore it is * 1.17 that the Kall attayneth not so high) as also to increase the heate of the guts: for both these parts are membranous and without bloud; and therefore their naturall heate is but weake. Now this comfort the Kall affoordeth not onely by his owne heate, which yet is the more, because of the manifolde Veines and Arteries which are wouen together thorough his substance: but also because beeing thicke and bedded together, it much hindereth the heate from dissipation, and the incursion also of outward colde, and so by consequence is a great helpe and furtherer of concoction. And that it was ordayned to increase heate; Galen in his fourth Booke de vsu partium, and in the ninth Chapter, maketh manifest by the example of those, who hauing got a deepe wound in their bellies, so that a part of the Kall falleth out, do euer after worse concoct their nourishment, and stand in need of Sto∣machers or other couerings vpon their bellies to keep them warme, especially when much

of it falleth out; for it presently groweth liuid, and constraineth the Chirurgion to take it off, so saith Hippocrates in the beginning of his first Booke de Morbis; If the Kall fall out, * 1.18 it putrifieth necessarily. And Galen in the place before named saith, hee tooke almost all of * 1.19 it from a Fencer, who was presently cured, but euer after was easily offended with colde, so as he was constrained to defend his belly with Wooll. Heereto also Aristotle assenteth in the third Chapter of his fourth Booke de partibus Animalium, Nature (saith he) abuseth the Kall to helpe the concoction of the Aliment, that it might bee done with more ease, and grea∣ter expedition. For heate concocteth: now that which is fat is hot, and therefore the Kall beeing * 1.20 fat, must needs concoct.

Another vse of the Kall is to keepe the guts moyst, because they are often distended, & againe corrugated, as they are filled with Chylus, or empried of it againe. A third vse is, that in time of necessity and affamishment, saieth Galen in the xi. Chapter of the fourth * 1.21 Booke de vsu partium, it might supply a kinde of subsidiarie nourishment to the naturall heate.

The vse of the Membranes of the Kall or Kell, is to sustaine the branches of the Gate Veine, and the Coeliacall Arterie which passe into the Stomacke, the Spleene, the Gut * 1.22 called Duodenum, and the Collicke gut. Againe, to knit the stomacke, the duodenum, and the Collick guts vnto the backe. To couple together the Liuer and the Spleene.

Archangelus addeth. That the thicke and bloudie vapours arising from the parts contay∣ned * 1.23 in the Lower belly, might cleaue into these Membranes, and by their densitie and thightnesse or fastnesse be condensed or curdled into fat, that so good a vapour as might afterward be turned into nourishment, should not vapour out in vaine. Finally, Lauren∣tius addeth another vse of the Membranes out of Hippocrates Booke de Glandulis, That * 1.24 when the humour which commeth from the Guts, is so plentifull that it cannot be recey∣ued and assumed into the Glandules, the ouer-plus might bee reserued in the Membranes of the Kell.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The names & the reasons of them.
• * 1.2

  Archangelus.
• * 1.3

  Kal carriers.
• * 1.4

  The scituati∣on of the Kal.
• * 1.5

  Vesalius.
• * 1.6

  Hippocrates.
• * 1.7

  Galen.
• * 1.8

  His connecti∣on.
• * 1.9

  The forme of it.
• * 1.10

  The frame or composition.
• * 1.11

  His two mem¦branes.
• * 1.12

  Connexion.
• * 1.13

  His vessels. veines.
• * 1.14

  Arteries.
• * 1.15

  Nerues.
• * 1.16

  The fat of the Kell.
• * 1.17

  The vse of the fat of the Kell.
• * 1.18

  Hippocrates.
• * 1.19

  A••st••••ry out of Galen.
• * 1.20

  Aristotle.
• * 1.21

  Galen.
• * 1.22

  The vses of the Mem∣branes of the Kell.
• * 1.23

  Archangelus.
• * 1.24

  Leurentius out of Hippocrates.