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. II. Of Gristles in General.

GRistles next to Bones are the hardest similar parts▪ and almost just of the same Nature with Bones, for such Beasts as have no Bones, have Gristles instead of Bones according to Aristotle.

But they differ, because they are softer than Bones, though harder than Ligaments: and though very many Gristles are in process of time turn'd into Bones [as Car∣dan▪

shews by the example of a Thief of Milaine, whose we∣sand was become boney. Also many Sceletons of my Kinsman Henry Fuirenus declare, that the Cartilago scu∣tiformis, or sheid-fashion'd Gristle, is changed into the hard substance of a Bone, which I also have observed in Dissections] yet all Gristles are not so, as the Ensiformis, that of the Share, of the Spines of the Back, of the No∣strils and Ears: which nevertheless somtime, in aged persons are turned into Bones. Moreover a Gristle hath no Marrow, no Cavities nor Caverns.

The Efficient is the Gristl-making power or faculty.

The Matter according to Aristotle is the same with that of the Bones, from wich he wil have them to differ only gradually. According to Galen it is an earthy but withall moist part of the Seed, partly clammy and glew∣ish, partly fat: but more clammy than fat.

Its Use

• 1. Is principally to render motion more easie and lasting in the Joynts, whiles it anoynts the parts of the Bones, least by mutual rubbing one against another, they should wear and fret. Hence in some Joynts are found Gristles which crustover two bones joyned toge∣ther.
• 2. To defend the parts from external injuries. For they are not easily bruised and broken, because they are hard and not friable, nor are they easily cut and squeezed as the soft and fleshy parts. Hence the extream parts of the Nose are gristly. Hence Gristles are joyned to the Breast∣bone and Ribs, to defend the Heart and Lungs, and the Gristle Ensiformis, to defend the Midriff and the mouth of the Stomach.
• 3. To make such a Connexion of the Bones as is term∣ed Sunchondrosis.
• 4. To shape parts prominent or hollow; as appears in the Ears, Larynx and Wesand.
• 5. To fill up hollownesses, especially in the Joynts, as is seen in the Knee.
• 6. To serve for a cover, as in the Epiglottis.
• 7. To be as an underpropper to sustain somwhat, as the Gristles of the Eyelids bear the Hairs.

Their Situation is various, for Gristles are found in sun∣dry parts, in the Eye-lids, Nose, Ear, Larynx, Wezand, Spine, Chest, Ear-lets, of all and every of which in their places.

Their Magnitude also varies: so also

Their Figure is divers, as ring-fashion'd, Sheild-shap'd, Sword-like, &c.

As to their Connexion. Some Gristles constitute parts of themselves, as that of the Nose, Xyphoidis, the Coccyx: others grow to bones, which knit them together, either without any other medium, as in the Share and Breast∣bones, or by common Ligaments coming between, as in the Connexion by Diárthrosis.

In Substance, some are harder, as those which in time become boney; others are softer, fastning the Joynts, and resembling the Nature in a manner of Ligaments, and are therefore called Chondro-syndusmoi, Gristly Liga∣ments.

Now though their Substance be hard, yet it is flexible and tough because less cold and dry than a bone, and be∣cause compassed with a snotty matter.

And this Substance of theirs is void of sense; because it hath no acquaintance with Nerves nor Membranes. Nor was it requisite that it should feel, least in motion when the Gristles rub and strike one against another, pain should be caused.

In other things they agree with Bones.