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. V. Of the Muscles in General.

A Muscle is termed in Greek Mus a Mouse, because it resembles a flaid Mouse; and the Latins cal it Lacertus a Lizard, from its similitude with that Crea∣ture: Howbeit we cannot allot one certain figure to the Muscles, by reason of their variety.

A Muscle is an Organical Part, the Instrument of voluntary motion. For* 1.1 only this part can receive the Iuflux of the motive faculty. Helmont allowes the muscles a life peculiar to themselves, which conti∣nues for a while, even after death, as the convulsive motion in the Falling-sickness which continues invo∣luntarily. Which nevertheless does more truly arise, from the retraction and driness of the Nerves, and de∣fect of Spirits. Also the same man is in an error in conceiving that new fibres do arise in the muscles, and cause the Palsie. No man ever saw them, nor can they be bred anew, because they are Spermatick parts. The Palsie ought rather to be referred to a defect of some fi∣bres.

A muscle is an Organical part, be∣cause it consists 1. Of flesh. 2. Of* 1.2 a tendinous part (and these are the two parts of a muscle, which perform the Action) 3. Of Veins to carry back the Nutri∣ment. 4. Of Arteries preserving the inbred Heat, and bringing the Nourishment to the part. 5. Of Nerves, which contribute sense and especially motion. For the Brain sends the motive faculty through the Nerves into the Muscles. 6. Of Membranes which encompass and keep the muscles together. 7. Of Fat which moistens them, and hinders them from being dried by over much motion.

The Muscles of the whole Body are most straitly conjoyned one with* 1.3 another: Yet sometimes they gape, and are at some distance, when Wind, wheyish Humor, or some other mat∣ter gets between them; as in the ba∣stard Pleurisie, and concerning a Soldier whipt by the Turks. Veslingus told me that his muscles were so wi∣dened and separated, that if he bent his body but a lit∣tle, every muscle would bear it self out from its Natural situation, bunching out as it were, and swelling.

We divide the Muscles into two parts, a fleshy part, and a tendinous part.* 1.4

Again, we make the tendinous part to be either united, or disgregated, and severed.

United, where the whole tendinous part appears, white and hard, either in the beginning, end, or middle; or in all these parts.

Contrariwise it is disgregated or severed, where it is divided into many small fibres, scarce discernable to the sight, being compassed about with flesh▪ which ten∣dinous fibers may notwithstanding be discerned a∣mong the fleshy ones, in boyled Hogs-flesh, and in the flesh of a Turkey-cock, &c. So in some Muscles, es∣pecially 〈…〉〈…〉 of the Thighs of a Turkey-cock, the ten∣dinous 〈…〉〈…〉 appear whole and united from the begin∣ning to 〈…〉〈…〉. So in a man, somtimes the Tendon descends 〈…〉〈…〉 after its Original, mixe•• with flesh. Somtimes the tendinous part appears, united in the end, and severed in the beginning, as in the mus∣cle Deltoides; somtimes it is tendinous in the middle, and somtimes not at all.

With Aquapendent we define a* 1.5 Tendon to be a Body continued from the beginning to the end of a Muscle, and that it is a body of a peculiar Nature, cold and dry, made* 1.6 of Seed, as the principle of its Ge∣neration: But the beginning of its dispensation is a bone, for it springs from a bone, and is inserted or im∣planted into a bone. Yet some Muscles arise from Gristles, and some from Tendons, and are implanted into them. And* 1.7 it is rightly termed Tendo, from stretching, because it is bent and stretched like the string of a bow.

A Muscle is otherwise divided into the Head, middle, and End.

The Reginning and Head of a Muscle,* 1.8 when it is tendinous, is by Galen and other Anatomists, called Ligamentum, which they say is void of Sense, and that it is less then a Tendon, or the end of a Muscle.

Now the beginning in a great part of Muscles, is tendinous, sel∣dom* 1.9 fleshy. And to speak the ve∣ry truth, the beginning may as well be termed a Tendon, as the end; seeing for the most part, such as is the Beginning, such is the End, in Substance, in Thinness, Lightsomness, Whiteness, &c.

Now every Muscle is said to move towards its beginning,* 1.10 and every Muscle hath a Nerve, which is inserted either into the Head, or about the middle (and in some through the Surface of the muscle, in others through the Substance) so that where the Nerve is im∣planted, there is the Head of the Muscle: Which Galen laies down as* 1.11 a sure Rule, and saith; that if the Nerve be implanted into the Tayl, there is the Head of the muscle. But* 1.12 Johannes Walaeus an excellent learn∣ed Physitian, likes not this Rule, and conceives that it is all one, whether the Nerve be in∣serted into the beginning, the middle, or the end. 1. Because that Rule renders the motions of many mus∣cles obscure. 2. Because it holds not true in the Pe∣ctoral muscle, nor somtimes in other muscles of the Chest and Belly. 3. Because that Rule is not found∣ed upon any reason, for whether the Nerve be inserted into the beginning of the muscle, or into any other part thereof, the Spirits flowing in by the Nerve, may equally move the muscle: As we see in Wind-Instru∣ments, the Air is let in somtimes above, somtimes be∣neath, one way as conveniently as another. 4. And whereas that Rule is oftentimes found true, it happens by accident, because mostmuscles are moved upward, & because the Nerves descend from above, and therefore could not be more safely implanted any where, then in the upper part of the muscles. And that which Riolanus objects against* 1.13 Walaeus, touching the Contorsion or Wreathing of the recurrent Nerve, is nothing. For the Nerves run back, to avoid confusion, otherwise, if Nature chiefly inten∣ded the Insertion into the Heads of Muscles, she might

have carried them right out into the Larynx, as she doth other Nerves of the sixt Pair. Some Muscles receive two branches of Nerves, as the Midrif; some five, as the temporal Muscle.

The Middle of the Muscle, which they call the belly or body, doth for the* 1.14 most part swell, and is fleshy; some few have a tendon in the middle, as the Musculus Digastricus which opens the nether Jaw, and the second Pair belonging to the Os Hyoïdes.

The end or taile of a Muscle, is by some called Tendo▪ by others Chorda, and Apo∣neurosis.* 1.15 And the end is somtimes round, somtimes broad, somtimes long, other whiles short; somtimes one, other∣whiles more then one. Now this end, or tendon, is commonly conceived to be made up of a Concourse of Fibres, Ligaments, and very smal Nerves, which by little and little grow into one Body. For they will have a Nerve, when it comes to the place of a Muscle to be divided into divers slips, which are met by a Ligament, cleft after the same manner. Consequently they De∣termine.

1. That the Tendon hath the sense of Feeling, but not the* 1.16 Head, which they account void of sense and Motion. But this is false; because the tendinous head of a Muscle, when it is prickt, breeds Convulsions and cruel Symptomes, just as if the Head of the Mus∣cle were prickt. Moreover, the beginning of a Muscle hath motion, and therefore sense. It hath motion, because a Muscle, even in its* 1.17 Head, is contracted and expanded, espe∣cially when it is fleshy.

2. They say also that the End is thicker then the Head: which not∣withstanding* 1.18 is somtimes true and somtimes false, as in the Musculous Biceps, and others.

3. They will have the Tendon to be softer then the Ligament (as they call it) or the beginning of the Muscle, namely so much softer, as it is harder then a Nerve, But the contrary is true, viz. that the Tendon is harder then the beginning, because it many times changes into a boney and gristley substance, as in the feet of feathered fowle; but the beginning doth not so. Moreover, I deny that Nerves enter into the Tendon. For Aquapen∣dent* 1.19 and Riolanus have observed, by fre∣quent dissections, that when they are entred into the flesh of the Muscle, they are spread out into many little branches, which go in∣to a certain Membranous flexure, and so vanish or end, before they come to the tendon. Moreover, a Nerve is soft, how therefore can it be mingled with an hard body? Neither is the end less destitute of sense, then the Head, seeing there come no more Nerves to it then the other: for the Nerve being implanted, tends downwards, and not upwards.

The Action of a Muscle is voluntary Motion.* 1.20

The Motion of a Muscle, is three∣fold, 1. A Muscle is contracted within it self, towards the Head; and when this is done the opposite Muscle is relaxed and loos∣ned. 2. Being contracted, it continues so. And these two motions are primary, per se and not acciden∣tal. 3. After contraction it is relaxed▪ which motion is accidental, and proceeds from another. And there∣fore Muscles are alwaies set one against another, as Antagonists.

Now the work of this Motion or Action, which is seen in the parts▪ whereinto the Muscles are planted, doth vary according to the Variety of Parts. For in the throat it is swallowing; in the Arme bending and stretching forth, &c. Yea and somtimes one follows upon another. For the Muscles of the Chest, when they act, do diversly widen or contract the same, they draw in Air, or expel Fuliginous sooty vapors, and cause Respiration.

This Motion of the Muscles, is somtimes* 1.21 called Voluntary, somtimes Animal, to distinguish it from the natural, in Brutes Spontaneous. For we can hasten, or slacken, or stop this motion as we please. And in this motion, the will of a Man or the Appetite of Brutes, is like an Horse∣man guiding and putting his Horse forward; the Nerves resemble the Reins of the Bridle, and the Mus∣cles are like the Horse. There are some singular Mus∣cles, as of the inside of the Eare, the Midrif, the Muscles of the Chest, and Eye-lids, whose motion is partly voluntary and partly natural, because they ma∣ny times perform their actions, when we have no thought nor will thereto.

The use of all the Parts of the Muscle, is* 1.22 after the same manner, as in every perfect Organ. For 1. There is that by which the action is primarily and of it self performed, and it is the Fibrous flesh; [but especially according to the Fibres, for the flesh being wounded according to the length of the Fibres, the motion remains unhurt, but it is not so▪ when the fibres are wounded] for the most part the belly of the Muscle▪ which is most of all contracted. Hence it is that if you cut a Muscle of in the beginning end or middle, in a living person, or in one that is dead it purses it self round and draws it self into it self like a ball: as also it doth, being cast into the water. Riola∣nus counts the principal part to be the tendon, upon which the Action depends, because it hath a peculiar substance of its own, such as is no where to be seen out of a Muscle. But this is rather true of fibrous flesh, which is in all Muscles, where as in some there is no tendon. 2. That without which it cannot be perfor∣med as the Nerve: For if the Nerves be hurt the Muscle looses its motion. 3. That by which it is more strongly and better performed, as the tendons and tendinous fibres. Wherefore those Muscles only, which perform conti∣nual* 1.23 and strong motions, have recei∣ved united and Conspicuous tendons. For the Muscles do either move them∣selves only, as those of the Fundament and Bladder; or they move also the skin, as in the Lips, forehead and face: and in these there is no tendon to be seen▪ or they move a bone, and these for the most part evi∣dently end in tendons, because the strong motion of an heavy member did require as much: or they move some other light thing, as the Muscles of the tongue and Larynx (some of which have tendons and some not) of the Eyes, Stones and Yard. 4. Such parts as conserve and guard the action, as the Veins and Arte∣ries, the Membranes and fat.

Notes

• * 1.1

  What a Mus∣cle is?
• * 1.2

  A Muscle is an Organical part.
• * 1.3

  The Connexion of the Muscles of the whole Bo∣dy.
• * 1.4

  The Parts of a Muscle only two. The tendinous Part how ma∣ny fold.
• * 1.5

  What the Tendon of a Muscle is?
• * 1.6

  Its Beginning.
• * 1.7

  Why called Tendo?
• * 1.8

  The Beginning and Head of a Muscle.
• * 1.9

  Both the beginning and end of a Muscle may be called a Ten∣don.
• * 1.10

  Two things observable touching the beginning of a Muscle.
• * 1.11

  Galens Rule.
• * 1.12

  Disliked by Wa∣laeus; and why?
• * 1.13

  The Objection of Riolanus an∣swered.
• * 1.14

  The middle of a Muscle.
• * 1.15

  The end of a Muscle how known by Galen and other Anato∣mists?
• * 1.16

  Whether the Head of a Muscle be void of sense?
• * 1.17

  If it have Motion?
• * 1.18

  Whether the end be thicker then the Head.
• * 1.19

  Whether the Nerves go into the Tendon.
• * 1.20

  The action of a Muscle is Motion.
• * 1.21

  And that Voluntary.
• * 1.22

  The use.
• * 1.23

  Which Muscles do move more strongly?