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. VI. Of the Muscles of the Belly, or Abdomen.

THose which are called Musculi Abdominis, the Belly-muscles, do cover the lower Belly, and Galen reckons as many, as there are positions of fibres; right, transverse, oblique, and these either upwards or downwards. So that according to Galen there are eight, four on each side; two oblique descendents, or external oblique ones, two oblique ascendents or in∣ternal ones, two right and two transverse: But Massa found out two others, and after him Fallopius, which they term Pyramidal Muscles, others Fallopian Mus∣cles, and Sylvius calls them Succenturiatos. And so hither Anatomists have made these muscles ten in num∣ber. Casserius accounts the right Muscles to be many, and that rightly; seeing there are for the most part four of them on each side; and so for the most part.

[illustration]

This TABLE represents the Oblique Descendent Muscle of the Belly out of its place, and the rest of the Muscles in their proper places.

The III. TABLE.

The Explication of the FIGURE.

• A. Part of the Obliquely Descendent Muscle on the left side.
• A. The beginning of the Obliquely Des∣cendent Muscle removed out of its Situation, in the right side, as also the insertion of many Nerves, and the oblique carriage of many fibres.
• B. The Right Muscles, of which two are found above the Navil N. and one beneath it.
• C. The fleshy part, or Belly of the ob∣liquely descendent Muscle ends here; and here begins the Tendon or Membranous end thereof.
• D. The hole in the Tendon of this Mus∣cle, through which the Spermatick Vessels, are sent into the Stones to∣wards the Cod.
• E. The obliquely ascendent Muscle, in its situation, with the Fibres which run to the upward parts.
• F. The Fleshy beginning of the obliquely ascendent Muscles, growing out of the sharpe point of Os Ilij, or the Appendix GG.
• G. The Spina, or that same Appendix of the Os Ilium.
• H. The Line about which the Tendons of the oblique Muscles of the Belly begin, which Spigelius calls Semi∣lunaris, the half-moon-shap'd Line.
• I. The streight Muscles transparent under the Tendons of the oblique ascendent Muscle.
• K. Productions of the Peritonaeum, in∣volving the spermatick Vessels, and descending into the Cod.
• L. Holes in the end of the Ascendent and Right Muscles, to let the spermatsck Vessels through.
• M. The Kernels of the Groyn laid open.
• N. The Navil.
• O. The white Line of the Belly.
• P. The Thighs near the Privities.
• Q. The 〈…〉〈…〉 or Yard.
• 1. 2. 3. •…•…erves, which proceed from under each Rib, to be distributed into the oblique descendent Muscle.
• 9. 10. 11 〈…〉〈…〉 ••e four lower Ribs.
• a a a. The 〈…〉〈…〉 of the oblique ascendent Muscle.

page 10:

[illustration]

In this TABLE are shown the right Muscles of the Belly, with their Inscriptions, as also the Epigastric and Mammary Vessels, which are conspi∣cuous from their inner side. Also the transverse Muscle of the Belly, separated about its beginning, and the Pyramidal Muscles in their Situation.

The IV. TABLE.

The Explication of the FIGURE.

• A. The transversal or overthwart Muscle, made loose about its beginning.
• b b b. Its beginning.
• c c. A portion of the Tendon.
• D. The right Muscle.
• e. Its beginning.
• f f f. Nervous Inscriptions.
• g. The End.
• H. The back-side of the other right Muscle, wherein.
• I. Shews the Dug Vein and Artery descending.
• k k. The Epigastry Vein and Artery descending.
• l l. The Concourse or Anastomosis of the Veins.
• MM. The Peritonaeum freed from the Muscles.
• NNN. The Pyramidal Muscles.
• OO. The productions of the Perito∣naeum descending into the Cod.

page. 11:

there are sixteen Muscles of the Belly for the most part, at least and seldo∣mer fourteen, when there are only three right Muscles on either side; somtimes eighteen, when there are five right ones found, on each side. Fon∣tanus found them all, folded and wrapped up in an Embryo or imper∣fect birth.

The first Pair obliquely descendent, [or the external] so called by reason of the Fibres, which descend obliquely from the upper to the lower part; covers all the Abdomen, on its own side, seeing it is very great and broad.

Its original is in the breast, from the lower part of the sixt, seventh and eight* 1.1 Ribs, before they end in Gristles; and it arises from sundry triangular begin∣nings, or spires, [near the great saw∣shap'd Muscle of the Brest] which after∣ward grow into one. And to every triangular spire, from the spaces between its Ribs, and Nerve is carry∣ed. Moreover, it arises also [a smal space being inter∣posed] from the point of the transverse processes of the Vertebra's of the Loyns. So largly is the begin∣ning thereof spread out, namely from the sixt Rib to the lowest Vertebra of the Loyns.

It ends in the middle of the Abdomen, where a white line appears, and it ends into* 1.2 a large Tendon, an infinite company of ob∣lique Fibres running together in that place.

Now the white Line, which is somtimes* 1.3 fringed with fat, is the meeting together of the Tendons of the Muscles of the Belly, saving those of the right muscles. For the Tendons of the oblique muscles are united. and do so meet form both parts, that they form as it were a coat which covers the Belly, or as if it were but one Ten∣don.

It is white, because void of flesh, proceeding from the Mucronata Cartilago or pointed Gristle which is sea∣ted at the Sharebone: and it is narrower below the Navil then above.

The two muscles obliquely descendent are bored through. 1. At the Navil. 2. At the Groyn in men, that the seed Vessels may pass through; in Women, to give passage to the two round and Nervy Ligaments of the Womb, which are terminated in the Privity near the Nymphes.

Now as touching the Original* 1.4 of the obliquely-descending mus∣cle, Aquapendant did long since hatch a contrary Opinion, which Laurentius did afterwards pro∣pound as new, and of his own In∣vention, reprehending all other Anatomists, who were the said miserably deceived. Now this contrary Opinion will have these muscles to be rather termed external Ascendents, so that their O∣riginal should be from the upper part of the Os pubis, Os Ilij, and from the transverse Processes of the Loins: And the end. in the Ribs. They prove it thus:

1. Because a muscle ought to arise from some quiet and immoveable* 1.5 part, such as is the Share-bone com∣pared to the Ribs. I answer, the Ribs are quiet and still, being compared to the white Line.

2. They say a muscle draws towards its beginning, and because the oblique∣descendent* 1.6 serves for Respiration, it draws the Ribs towards the Share. I answer, this muscle doth not primarily* 1.7 serve for Respiration, as I shall shew hereafter.* 1.8

Now our Opinion, which is Galens, is proved. 1. By the Ingress of Nerves, which is about the beginning. 2. By the carriage of Fibres, which go here from the beginning to the white Line. 3. All confess that there is a Concourse of Tendons, yea of those which obliquely descend, in∣to the white Line. Therefore the End is there. 4. It

[illustration]

This TABLE presents the Obliquely-ascendent Muscle of the Belly, loosned from its Originals; the Transverse Muscle, and the she one straight Mus∣cle in its Situation, and the other with its Pyramidals removed from its place.

The V. TABLE.

The Explication of the FIGURE.

• A The Muscle of the Abdomen obliquely ascending, separa∣ted about the beginning; wherein.
• bbb. Is the Beginning.
• cc. A Portion of that tendon wch covers the right Muscle.
• DDDD. The right Muscle in its Si∣tuation.
• E. The inner side of the right Muscles drawn out of its place.
• f. The lower End of the right Muscle, cleaving to the Share-bone.
• gh. The Epigastrick Vessels, which spring from the Ra∣mus Iliacus, of which g de∣notes the Vein h the Artery.
• ••. The End of these Vessels which are joyned with the Mammaria Descending from above.
• KK. The Pyramidal Muscles re∣moved from their place.
• l. The Tendon of those Muscles which reaches to the Navil.
• MM. The transverse Muscle.
• nn. Its first Original which is Nervous & membranous.
• OOO. Its second fleshy Beginning.
• ppp. Its Tendon which grows to the Peritonaeum.
• qqq. The Nerves which come from the marrow of the Back to this Muscle.
• rrrrr. The Boughs of the Vein and Artery of the right Mus∣cles, which are sent unto the transverse Muscle cut off.
• SSSS. The Ribs.
• TTT The Intercostal Muscles.
• V. The Os Sternum or Breast-bone.
• XX. T Skin separated and hanging down.
• Y. The Spine, or sharp point of Os Ilij.
• Z. Certain Muscles which grow to the Os Ilij.

page. 12

is proved by the common Action, of which beneath.

The Use [according to Riolanus, who saith that the Os pubis or Share-bone being moveable, doth move this boney structure forwards, the Chest resting, or be∣ing lightly moved, in the Conjugal Embracement, and in the going of such as want Leggs and Thighs. But we daily observe the Belly to be moved, in single per∣sons that are chast, nor doth Nature frame Parts to sup∣ply unexpected defects of muscles, but for Natural and Ordinary Actions. Spigelius suspects, that from the same moveable beginning, that same bone is drawn obliquely upward, and enclined toward the Chest, by the help of the muscles.

The second pare is the OBLIQUELY ASCENDENT [or internal] having Fibres contrarily situated: It is situ∣ated next the former, and hath a triangular Figure.

Its Original is fleshy, from the Rib of Os Ilij: but membranous, both* 1.9 from the transverse Processes of the Vertebra's of the Loins, from which it receives Nerves, and from the sharp points of Os sacrum.

It grows a little by a fleshy End, to* 1.10 each of the bastard Ribs, and to some of the true Ribs, but the rest its End turns by little and little into a Tendon, which is double: The one part goes upon the right muscles, the other beneath, so that the right doth rest as it were in a sheath, but near the white Line it is reunited, and inserted thereinto. Which Riolanus hath observed to happen only above the Navil, and not beneath.

The third pare of the right Muscles, by reason of the right fibres. This pare is commonly reckoned to be but one.

Galen doth rightly make the be∣ginning to be fleshy, arising from the* 1.11 Breast-bone, on each side of the Sword-fashion'd Gristle, and from the Gristles of the four bastard Ribs. It ends in a Tendon at the Os Pubis. Others contrari∣wise, will have the beginning to be here in the Share∣bone, and the End above. But I answer. 1. That the right Muscles receive their Nerves in the upper part, viz. one branch of those Nerves, which were inserted into the oblique descending Muscle, and o∣thers also from the last of the Back, and from the first pare of the Loins. 2. A Muscle uses not to have a tendinous beginning, and a fleshy End. Other late Anatomists will have the right Muscles to have two beginnings and two ends; one beginning and one end in the Breast, and another in the Share-bones. Who are for this Conceit of theirs, beholden to that new o∣pinion touching the moveableness of the Share-bone, of which I shall speak hereafter.

The Musculus rectus or straight mus∣cle, hath for the most part three. In∣scriptions* 1.12 in Persons of a middle sta∣ture, and somtimes four in tall people, whose Belly is long. But according to Carpus and Casserius, we say that suitable to the mul∣titude of Inscriptions, there are more muscles, because 1. To every Joynting there comes a Nerve. 2. If it were but one, being contracted into itself, it could not equally compress all parts. 3. There should be no such muscle in the whole body, wherein nevertheless there are many long ones, without such a number of Inscriptions.

In the internal Surface of the right muscles, there are two Veins conjoyned, with as many Arteries.

The upper called Mammaria, arise from the Vena cava, lying beneath the* 1.13 Claves, the more remarkeable branch whereof reaches unto the Duggs, and runs out under the right Muscle, as far as to the Region of the Navil, where it is terminated.

This is met by the other termed Epigastrica, which in Women springs from the Womb, in men the Vena cava goes upwards towards the upper Vein, which be∣fore it touches, it is for the most part obliterated. Yet these two Veins are somtimes joyned together by ma∣nifest Anastomosis, touching one another, at their ends. Hence the Consent is supposed to arise between the Duggs and the Womb, the Belly and the Nostrils. For when the Nose bleeds, we fix Cupping-glasses to the belly, and the Duggs of Women being handled, it in cites them to Venery.

The Musculi recti receive Arteries from the Epigastrica Artery, and Nerves which* 1.14 proceed from the last Vertebra's of the Chest.

The proper use of these Muscles according to Riola∣nus, is to move the Share-bone forward in Generati∣on, which hath been already confuted. Spigelius will have them to draw the Breast to the Ossa pubis or share∣bones, and the Share-bones to the Breast, in a straight motion, and so to bend the Chest; whence it is, that in Dogs and Apes, they reach as far as to the Jugulum, because their Chest did require very much bowing. But these contrary motions, unless they be holpen, with those incisions of the right muscles, do involve a difficulty. Helmont suspects that they are stretched in going up hill, and that from thence shortness of breath proceeds. Flud saith, that by a general use, they make the Belly round, and compress it centrally, or towards the middle point thereof.

The fourth pare called the Pyramidal* 1.15 Muscles, do rest upon the lower Ten∣dons of the Musculi recti. Nor are they parts of the right Muscles, as Vesalius and Colum∣bus think; but distinct muscles, as Fallopius proves with reasons, which are partly convincing, partly vain. But that they are peculiar muscles is hence apparent. 1 Because they are cloathed with a peculiar membrane. 2. Their Fibres are different from those of the Musculi recti.

They rise with a fleshy beginning,* 1.16 not very broad, from the external Share-bone, where also the Nerves do enter; and the farther they go upwards, the narrower they grow, till they terminate with a sharp point, into the Tendon of the transverse Muscle. And from this place I have ob∣served more then once, a small and round Tendon pro∣duced, as far as to the Navil.

Riolanus hath observed the left Pyramidal Muscle to be lesser then the right, and when there is but one, it is oftner left then right.

The Use of the Pyramidal Muscles, is* 1.17 to assist the right muscles, in compres∣sing the Parts beneath. Hereupon according as the Tendons of the right muscles are more or less strong. so, sometimes the Pyramidal muscles are wanting (though rarely) somtimes they are strong, otherwhi∣les weak, and somtimes there is but one. Bauhine saith▪ If they are absent, then either the flesh joyned to the Heads of the right ones [which I have often observed] or the Fat performs their Office. And others will have them to be as it were certain Coverings of the right muscles.

Fallopius will have the Pyramidal 〈…〉〈…〉 to com∣press and squeez the Bladder, when •…•…e Water, that the Urin may be forced out. Con•…•…wise Aqua∣pendent will have it, that they raise and lift themselves up, and together with them the Abdomen and Perito∣naeum,

that the parts beneath them, may not be too much burthened. Now Columbus charges Fallopius, that he would have these muscles serve to erect the Yard, whereas that is Massa his Opinion [whose O∣pinion is followed by Flud, because of the situation of these Muscles] but they cannot serve for that intent, be∣cause they reach not the foresaid part, and because they are found likewise in Women.

The fifth pare called the Transverse Muscles, being lowest in situation, do* 1.18 arise from a certain Ligament which springs out of the Os sacrum, and co∣vers the Musculus sacrolumbus, also from the lowest Rib, and the Os Ilij. They end by a membranous Tendon, into the white Line, and do stick extream fast to the Peritonaeum, every where save about the Share. The proper Use of these Muscles, is to compress the Gut Colon.

The Action of all the Muscles of the Belly, is as it were twofold. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 An e∣quable* 1.19 Retension and Compression of the Parts in the Belly: For •…•…y all act together, the Midriff assisti•…•…em, and this is the reason why the Fibres of all th•…•…s, do meet together in one and the same C•…•…ing as they are thus described by Robert E•…•….

2. The Second Action 〈…〉〈…〉 vs up∣on the former, viz. the •…•…dance of* 1.20 Excrements. And because the num∣ber of parts to be compressed is great, as the Guts, Womb, Bladder; one Muscle could not suffice, but there was need of divers, acting in divers places, according to divers Angels: Right, transverse, oblique. Every part indeed hath an expulsive Po∣wer;* 1.21 but those parts which are hol∣low, and often, and much burthened, do need the help of these muscles; as in the Expulsion of Excrements, of Worms, of Urin, of a Child, of a Mole, &c.

These are their true Actions, which are apparent from their Fabrick. But* 1.22 Nature somtimes abuses the muscles, to move the Chest, when there is need of a great and violent Expiration, as in Out∣cries, Coughs, and the like. For then they do not a little compress the Chest.

Their Use. They are of an hot and moist Tempe∣rament. because flesh is prevalent in them: And there∣fore they cherish Heat and Concoction: They are mode∣rately thick; and therefore they defend the Parts, and are a Safeguard to them, even when they rest: Also they conduce to the Comlyness of the Body: And therefore extream Fat, dropsied Persons, such as are very lean, &c. are deformed.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Original of the oblique descending Muscle.
• * 1.2

  Its End.
• * 1.3

  What the white Line is?
• * 1.4

  The Error of Aqua∣pendent and Lau∣rentius, touching the Original of the oblique-descending Muscle.
• * 1.5

  Their first Rea∣son refuted.
• * 1.6

  Their second Reason
• * 1.7

  answered.
• * 1.8

  Tis proved that these Muscles arise from above, not from be∣neath.
• * 1.9

  The Original of the obliquely as∣cendent Mus∣cles.
• * 1.10

  Their double End.
• * 1.11

  The Original of the right Mus∣cles.
• * 1.12

  That there are divers right Muscles.
• * 1.13

  The Veins.
• * 1.14

  The Arteries and Nerves.
• * 1.15

  The Pyramidal Muscles.
• * 1.16

  Their Original.
• * 1.17

  Their Use.
• * 1.18

  The transverse Muscles.
• * 1.19

  The Action of the muscles of the Belly.
• * 1.20

  Why there are divers muscles of the Belly?
• * 1.21

  A Praeoccupation.
• * 1.22

  A Secondary action of the muscles of the Belly.