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THe Bones of the Arm and Hand, are divided into the Brachium or Arm peculiarly so called, Cubitus the Cu∣bit, and Extrema manus the Hand.
The Os Brachii or Arm-bone, is a single Bone, great and strong, long, round, and uneven. In its upper part it hath an Appendix or great Head, growing to it, which is round, covered with a Gristle, and articulated with the Scapula by Diárthrosis.
Place in here, The Skeleton of a grown body.
The lower part is articulated to the Cubitus and Radius, where there are two processes; the External which is less and crusted with a Gristle; the Internal having two Hollows; representing a Pulley, whereby the Cubit being joyned by way of Ginglymos, may be bent to a most acute angle, but not extended beyond a right line.
The Boats of the Cubit are two, shorter than the Shoul∣der, and having Appendixes on either side, resting mutu∣ally one upon another, and joyned one to another by a Membranous Ligament.
The first being lower, greater and longer than the other, is termed Ulna, Cubitus, by the barbarous Writers focile ma∣jus; the other being upper and lesser, is termed Radius, or focile minus.
The Ulna or Ell, so called for some resemblance it hath to the Drapers Metwand termed an Ell, in its upper part is ar∣ticulated with the Shoulder by Ginglymos, and therefore it hath there Processes, and Hollows.
The Processes are two, longwise shaped, and as it were tri∣angular, rough, that the Ligaments might strongly close upon the Joynt and compass the same fast. They are term∣ed Co••d••ai, that is Beaks, Bills or Acorns. The foremore and uppermore is less, and goes into the hollow of the Shoulder: the later is thicker and larger and ends in an ob∣tuse angle, and goes into the hinder hollow of the Shoulder. Galen calls it Olecranum, Hippocrates Ancona, the Latines Gibberum.
In the middest of these is a great Cavity or Hollow, like an half Circle, whence 'tis called Sigmocides from the let∣ter Sigma so shap'd of old by the Greeks. It hath as yet another smooth external lateral Cavity, for the head of the Radius.
In the lower part it is articulated with the Wrist, both by a Gristle going between, as also by an acute process there∣fore termed Styloides, Bodkin-like; whence a Ligament a∣rises, which fastens the Cubit to the Wrist-joynt.
The other Bone cal'd Radius is more oblique or crooked, and is a little distant from the other in the middle, where a thin Ligament comes between: but above, the Ulna re∣ceives the Radius; beneath, the Radius receives it.
The upper part thereof is articulated with the outward part of the Brachium, by way of Diarthrosis, whence pro∣ceeds the forward and backward motion.
The lower is articulated with an Appendix with the Wrist-bone, at the greatest Finger.
The upper part of this, is thinner, the lower thicker; con∣trary to what is in the former.
The Hand hath four sorts of Bones: those of the Carpus, Brachiale or Wrist; those of the Matacarpus or post brachiale, the After-wrist; those of the Fingers and the Sesamus-seed∣bones.
The Carpus or Wrist, which the Arabians call Rasetta, hath eight distinct nameless Bones, very unequal, differing in Shape and Magnitude.
At their first original they are Gristles, afterwards they become Spungie Bones.
They are covered with very strong Gristly Ligaments and withall so fastned together, as if they were but one Bone.
And these Ligaments arising from the lower processes of the Radius and Cubitus, do serve for Articulation.
But there are other Ligaments, which are transverse and shaped like rings, for to strengthen and safely to carry a∣long the Tendons, the internal, containing the tendons of the Muscles which bend the Fingers; and the external, con∣taining the Tendons of the Muscles which extend the Fin∣gers, which Ligaments or Bands, though they seem to be one, may be divided into many.
The bones of the Wrist are dispersed in a certain order: for above, there are four, articulated with the Radius and the Cubitus: beneath as many, knit to the four bones of the Metacarpus or After-wrist.
The Metacarpium, After-wrist, or Palm, hath four bones (others say five, reckoning the first of the Thumb amongst them) shaped longwise and small.
They are joyned to the Wrist by a Connexion of obscure motion, and by Gristly Ligaments: with the Fingers by way of Ginglymos.
These Bones are fistulous containing Marrow, hollow within, bossie without.
They have Appendixes on each side, which neer the fin∣gers are round and longish heads, going into the hollow∣ness of the Fingers. In the middle they gape one from another, where the Muscles cal'd Inner••••ss••i do lye con∣ceal'd.
The bones of the Fingers are fiftee••, in each Finger three. For the first of the Thumb is reckon'd in this number, because it hath a looser articulation than the post-brachi∣alia.
The row of Fingers on a hand the Greeks call Phalan∣gas▪ because they resemble a rank of Souldiers in battle array.
Each of the Fingers have Ligaments on their insides, according to their length like Channels, whereby they are fastned one to another.
The bones of the Finger differ in Magnitude. For in every Finger, the first is greates than the second, the second than the third: and they are all thicker at the Joynt, where their knobs are termed •…•…duloi, ••odi, kno••.
Without they are bunching, within hollow and plain the better to lay hold.
They have Processes above and beneath, besides the bones of the third Interjuncture, which they did not need above where they are joyned to the Nails.