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 Pancreas or sweet-bread. CHAP. VII.

PAncreas, that is, all flesh, is so called because of the likenesse it hath with flesh * 1.1 in an ordinary and moderate body, for in a Fat body it seemeth to be Fat it selfe: it is also called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. It is an vnshapely body, very loose, all glan∣dulous (wherefore Archangelus would haue it called Pandenon) and large. It hath his beginning at the first spondle of the loynes, and thence defused, spreds it selfe vnder the backpart of the stomack and his bottome, the duodenum [as appea∣reth * 1.2 in the table belonging to the chapter of the bladder of gall at the note ¹] and the gate∣veine at the Kidneyes, euen as farre as the seates of the Liuer and the spleene. In Man it is not so red as in Dogges, and in all beasts because of their groueling gate, it lyeth vppon the stomacke.

That which in his middle appeareth white, is his Parenchyma or proper flesh, and be∣cause of his whitenes and softnesse, some call it Lactes: we call it the sweet-bread, because in Swine it is esteemed a sweete morsell, though the sweet bread of a Calfe or Veale bee another thing, as you shall heare hereafter. It hath veines but very small from the Gate∣veines * 1.3 for his nourishment: and Arteries from the Coeliacall for his life; sinewes also from the sixt paire, and glandules. The especiall vse of it is to sustaine, secure, and preserue from Compression the diuisions of the branches of the Gate-veine, of the Coeliacal Arterie, and * 1.4 of the nerues which are carried to the stomacke, and to the Gut called duodenum; but espe∣cially the Splenick braunch which passeth vnto the spleene; as also the vessell which con∣tayneth the choller called Porlis Biliarius, because about his seate is the originall of all their diuisions.

Moreouer another vse it hath, by reason of the many glandules in it contayned, which * 1.5 is to licke vp the remaynders of that muddy and superfluous Fat (or if you will, the crude

and phlegmaticke part of the bloud, which Hippocrates calleth Coenosam humiditatem, the muddy moysture) which the Kall and Mesenterie could not contayne: that the bloud be∣ing thus depured, might bee exhibited to the inward partes, more pure and better defe∣cated.

Againe, whereas these glandules doe as it were feede vppon and deuoure the crude or raw and moyst part of the bloud; it must needes follow that from them should exhale in∣finite vapours moyst and hot, which steaming vp round about the stomacke, doe make this action of Chilification, a kinde of elixation or stewing, like a Maryes Bath.

Finally, the Pancreas like a pillow or quishion is placed vnder the stomacke and other parts, least being filled, they should leane too hard vpon the spondelles of the loynes, and * 1.6 be violated with their hardnesse. Albeit Fallopius and Archangelus I know doe reiect this vse of it, because there is no such vse of it in brute beastes, in whome it lyeth aboue the sto∣macke. It parteth also the stomacke from the great Arterie, least when the stomacke is very full and strutteth out, the Arterie should be pressed, and so the free course of the vitall spirits to the lower parts intercepted.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The sweet-bread.
• * 1.2

  The scituati∣on of it.
• * 1.3

  His vessels & glandules.
• * 1.4

  His vse.
• * 1.5

  The vse of his Glandules.
• * 1.6

  Another vse of the pancreas