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Temporalis seu Crotaphites.
THis is the first and strongest of all the Muscles, filling the whole Cavity of the Temple Bones; it arise••h from the Os Frontis, Syncipitis, & Sphaenoides, fleshy and Semicircular, and growing narrower in his des••••ntion, runneth under Os Jugale, with a short but very strong and fleshy Ten∣don into the process of the lower Mandible called Corone; it hath allowed it three Nerves on either side: One from the third, a second from the fourth, and a third from the fifth pair; Wherefore this Muscle being either inflamed, contused or wounded, sharp pains do immediately succeed, and great danger of Convulsion and fear of Death, especially if the hurt do happen about the Nervous part thereof; As touching the Periostium, you will find that if you do raise this Muscle carefully, (contrary to the opinion of some) you will meet it under this Muscle, although many have asserted the contrary. The end of this Muscle is the beginning of the lower Mandible, the which it moves and draws upwards, and hereby shutteth the mouth; and by some hence it is called Attollens, and is the strongest Muscle of the Body in respect of its bulk. And as Spigelius writes, it is furnished with so much strength, that he remembers in his ripe years that he hath lifted up several pounds of Lead by the strength of his Teeth, and carried them there∣with. I have seen very great weights brought from the ground by the Teeth and strength of this Muscle, and it has been re∣ported above 200l weight has been lifted from the ground by them. This Muscle both shuts the Mouth, and constringes the Teeth.
In opening the Temporal Artery, caution is to be used by the young Chirurgeon lest he injureth this Muscle, by cutting too deep, whence fatal Convulsions (or at least a prejudice to Ma∣stication) do succeed. The safest way therefore is, first to make a light incision of the Skin, and then the Artery lying bare may the readier be hit and divided without injuring this Muscle, which lies under it; or at least it will be well to use in this Operation the Lancet that is retuse on one side like the Penknife, and to take the Artery pretty high about that part of the Temples which joyns to the Os Frontis.
This you have at Tab. 7. Fig. 1. at L m. m. m. shewing its Se∣micircular beginning, H. shews the same, Fig. 2. ejusd. Tabal.