CHAP. XIX. Of the Channel-bones and Shoulder-blades.
THe Channel-bones are called Claviculae, Cle••des in Greek, that is the Keyes; because they shut up the Chest, and like Keyes do lock the Shoulder-blade to the Breast-bone, or because they resemble the Keyes used by the Ancients, which Spigelius saw in an old house at Padua. Celsus calls them Jugula a jungendo from joyn∣ing, others call them Ligulas, Os furcale, Furcalem superi∣••rem.
They are seated athwart under the lower part of the Neck, on the top of the Breast, on each side one.
They have the Shape of a long Latine S, that is to say, of two Semicircles, set one to another contrariwise, at the Throat externally they are convex, in¦wardly a little hollowed, that the vel∣sels* 1.1 carried that way may not be com∣pressed. But in Men they are more crooked, that the motion of their Arms may be less hindred, in Women less, for beauties sake, see∣ing the hollows in that place are not so visible in Women as in Men, and therefore Women are not so nimble to throw Stones as Men are.
Their Substance is thick, but fistulous and fungous; and therefore they are often broken.
Their Surface is rough and uneven.
They are knit to the upper process of the Shoulder∣blade (by a Gristle, which nevertheless grows not there∣to, that it may give way a little in the motions of the Shoulder-blade and Arm, only it is detained by Liga∣ments embracing the Joynt) by a broad and longish head, and with the Sternon or Breast-bone, it is joyned, by ano∣ther little head, as was said before.
Its Use is to serve the sundry motions of the Arm, which because it rests upon this bone as on a prop, there∣fore it is more easily moved upwards and backwards. And therefore it is that Brutes have no channel-bones, excepting the Ape, Squiril, Mouse, and Hedge-hog or Ur∣chin.
Os Scapulae the Shoulder-blade is by the Greeks termed Omoplá••ē▪ because it makes* 1.2 the breadth of the Shoulder, those that speak barbarously calls it Spatula. It is a bone broad and thin, especially in the middest, but in its processes thick, on each side one, resting upon the upper Ribs, behind, like a Shield.
Its Figure is in a manner triangular.
Its Parts are sundry. The Internal is hollow, the other part (which hath both a corner and an upper and lower Rib) is gibbous, which is termed Testudo the Tortoise, also the Back of the Shoulder-blade. There is also a certain Spine or sharp-point, looking above and beneath the cavi∣ties which are termed Interscapulia.
It hath three Processes.
- I. Is the extream part of the Spine lately spoke of, and is called Aorōmiom the Shoulder-tip, or Summus Hu∣merus, whereby 'tis joyned to the Clavicula or Channel∣bone.
- II. Is lesser, lower and sharp, and from its likeness to a Crows bill, 'cis cal'd Coracoeid••s; also A••churod••s from the likeness it hath to one part of an Anchor, also Sigmo••i∣dés and by this process, the Shoulder bone is contained in its place.
- III. The shortest is termed Auchè cervix, the Neck; in the end whereof there is a superficial cavity, whereun∣to the Head of the Shoulder is inserted, which that it may not easily slip cut, the deepness of the Cavity is encreased by a thick Gristle, compassing the Lips. And by this pro∣cess and Cavity, the Shoulder-blade is joyned with the Arm.
It hath five Epiphyses, three at the inside, and at the Ba∣sis near the carriage of the Spina. Two of them produce Ligaments, which joyn its head to the Shoulder, and the Shoulder-tip to the Clavicula. But common Ligaments thin and Membranous, do compass the Joynt of the Shoul∣der-blade and Arm.
Use of the Scapula or Shoulder-blade.
- 1. It serves to strengthen the Ribs.
- 2. For the Articulation of the Shoulder and Channel∣bones, and for their security. And therefore the Shoulder is seldome (without very great violence) dislocated or dis∣joynted upwards, or to one side, but for the most part downwards, where no Shoulder-blade hinders.
- 3. For the implantation of Muscles.
- 4. Primarily for the action of laying hold according to Hofman, to which they are subservient, by inarticulation partly, and partly by the explanation of certain Muscles of the Arm.
- 5. Secondarily to cover the Heart.