Bartholinus anatomy made from the precepts of his father, and from the observations of all modern anatomists, together with his own ... / published by Nich. Culpeper and Abdiah Cole.

Chap. 14. Of the Back-bone and its Vertebra's in General.

IN the Trunk or other Part of the Skeleton, all the Ver∣tebrae of the Back-bone are to be examined, also the Ossa Ischij, the Ribs, the Breast-bone, the Chennel-bones, and the Shoulder-blades.

All that is termed the Spina or Back∣bone,* 1.1 which reaches from the first Verte∣bra of the Neck to the Os coccygis, or Crupper-bone. It is called Spina the Thorn, because the ••inder part therof is all along sharp-pointed like a thorn branch.

The Parts of the Spine or Back-bone are termed Spon∣duloi in Greek, in Latin Vertebrae Whirl-bones, or Turning∣bones, because by means of them the Body is turned seve∣ral waies.

And these Bones of the Spina are divided into seven Vertebrae of the Neck; twelve of the Back; five of the Loins, and five or fix of the Os sacrum; to which is added the Crupper-bone.

All the Vertebrae are hollowed, to contain the Spinal Marrow, they were to be many, not one, both for Motion which ought to be made forward and backward; also that the hurting of one might not draw the whole Spine into consent. The Father of Nic. Fontanus saw five Ver∣tebrae or Whirle-bones of the Spina in a cluster like a round ball, in the Body of a Porter that carried burthens. And Pavius hath observed that in decrepit old people these Vertebrae grow together into one, the moisture be∣ing dried up, and the intermediate Ligaments hardned, which he represents by a Picture. Tulpius saw the Back∣bone in a Boy divided into two parts, and Salmuth hath seen it broke asunder in persons that were hanged.

The Figure of the whole Back is, that somtimes it in∣clines inwards, as the Vertebrae of the Neck, to sustain the Gullet and aspera Arteria; and those of the Loins, for the Trunk of the Aorta and the Cava descending. Som∣times outwards, as of the Back, and a little of the Os sa∣crum; that there may be a larger space for the Heart, Lungs, Bladder, Fundament and Womb.

And these Parts do bend more outwards in Women, for the sake of the Child in the Womb.

The Figure of each Vertebra above and beneath, is plane and broad, that luxation may not easily be caused, round within, convex and bunching out; but in the neck broader and more even, by reason of the Wezand and Gullet resting thereupon. On the outer or Back-point, the Vertebrae are furnished with many prominencies.

For there are three kind of Processes in every Verte∣bra.

• I. Four oblique ones, two on the upper part ascending, two in the neither part descending.
• II. Two transverse, for the Original and Insertion of the Muscles. And they are in the Vertebrae of the Neck broad and bored through; in the Back thick, solid and round, excepting the eleventh and twelfth.
• III. One sharp one, in the hinder part, which is proper∣ly called the Spine or Thorn, and is wanting in the first Vertebra.

They have five Appendixes. Two above and beneath at their Body; as many at their transverse Processes, and one at the extremity of the Spine.

There is a most wide hole in the middest of each Ver∣tebra for to keep the Spinal Marrow in. Also there are other holes in the sides, which are lesser, to let the nerves out, which John Leonicenus affirm to go out only at the joyntings of the Vertebrae.

The Substance of each Vertebra, is thicker and more spungie in the inside: to which grow the Epiphyses and Gristles. For the extream Parts of the Vertebrae, excep∣ting the first of the Neck, are furnished with Appendixes, between which there come thick and soft Gristles, that they may be more easily moved; so that above and be∣neath, they have Gristles, which in the Os sacrum are harder and drier, because this Bone is immoveable.

The Vertebrae are knit together by Articulation in the hinder part, viz. by the way of Ginglumos, but in the fore part by way of Symphysis, and that by very strong Liga∣ments or Bands.

Now the Ligaments of the Vertebrae are twofold.

Some do knit the Vertebrae above and beneath, and are shaped like the half Moon, thick, strong, fibrous, and snottie.

Others arise from the Epiphyses, as well the transverse as the sharp ones, which are membranous, by which the Processes are more strongly tied.

Notes

• * 1.1

  What the Spi∣na is?