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. IV. Of the Parts of the Brain in Particular, and I. of the leng∣thened and Spinal Marrow, and its noble Ventricle.

SOme with Galen, Vesalius, Fallo∣pius,* 1.1 intending to contemplate what is contained in the Brain, be∣gin their Dissection in the upper part and proceed to the lower, and therefore they do unfitly propound* 1.2 and explain many parts. I, treading in the steps of Constantinus Varolus, shall take a quite contrary Course, yet such as is true and accurate, be∣ginning at the lower part of the brain and so passing to the uppermost: and I shall afterward propound the order of parts from top to bottome, for their sakes that will needs follow the vulgar and common way of Dissection; where also a third way of Dissection shall be propounded.

Beginning therefore at the lo∣west part of the Brain, we meet* 1.3 first with the beginning of the leng∣thened Marrow; the progress whereof because it is con∣tained in the Vertebra's of the Spina or Back-bone, therefore it is termed Spinalis and Dorsalis, Medulla, the Spinal or Back-marrow.

And if any one shall think we* 1.4 ought therefore to begin with the brain, because the Spinal Marrow is said to take its beginning therefrom;* 1.5 we answer, that we make the Marrow both as it is within the Skull and in* 1.6 the Back-bone, to be the beginning rather of the brain; and that the brain being divided into two parts, is as it were a certain double process or production of the Marrow it self.

Which is yet more manifest to those that* 1.7 behold the Anatomy of Fishes; for there the Head and Tail of the Marrow, is very great, but the process of the Marrow, or the brain is very little: the Cause whereof is, that Fishes use mo∣tion more then sense, intimating that the brain or barke contributes more to sense▪ and the Marrow it self to Motion. Hence Fish are dull of Sense, but very nimble in motion. And according to this opi∣nion of ours that saying will be verified, than an hard body is fittest for motion, and softer for sence.

[illustration]

The IV. TABLE.

The FIGURES Ex∣plained.

This TABLE presents the fourth Ventricle of the Brain, the Brainlet, and the Corpus Callosum, in several Figures.

FIG. I.

• AA. The Brainlet or Cerebellum and its Globes.
• B. The Worm-like process of the Cere∣bellum or Brainlet.
• CCCC. The processes of the Brainlet, which make the bridg of Varolius.
• D. The beginning of the spinal Mar∣row.
• EE. Two roots or smaller Processes of the spinal Marrow arising from the Brainlet.
• F. The fourth Ventricle likened to a Pen▪
• GG. A portion of the Brain cleaving to the Brainlet.

FIG. II.

• AA. The inner whiteish substance of the Brainlet.
• BBB. The outer and more duskish sub∣stance compassing the white about.
• CCCC. An Elegant structure of the Brainlet Representing the branchings of Trees.

FIG. III.

• AA. The appearance of the brain cut off in the middle as far as to the Ventricles.
• BB. The corp••s callosum drawn a little to the left ••ide.
• C. A portion of the Sickle turned backwards.
• DD. The right fore Ventricle uncovered above.
• EE. The left Ventricle open in like manner.
• FF. The Plexus choroides.
• G. A portion of the Speculum or Septum Lucidum.
• HH. The dura Mater drawn away on both ••ides.
• ••••. The two Thighes or portions of the Fornix.

page 136

The lengthened Marrow arises as some conceive from the brain alone, according to others from the Brainlet or Cerebellum. But it hath both (to speak now at a vulgar rate) for its beginning.

For it arises from four Roots or Foundations; two of which are greater from the fore-part of the brain com∣monly so called, two are lesser from the inner part of the Brainlet or petty Brain. From these united, the spinal Marrow seems to be constituted. But it is per∣adventure a more true opinion to think, that those originals are processes of the Marrow it self, as was said before.

The Substance of the Medulla oblongata or lengthe∣ned Marrow, is a little harder then that of the brain.

One part thereof is within the Skull, four Fingers breadths above the great Hole of* 1.8 the Hind-part of the Head. Another and the longest part thereof is without the Skull in the Vertebra's, from the first of the Neck to the last of Os sacrum.

Its Figure is longish and round, The Scripture calls it the Silver Cord. In its beginning it is thicker and larger then elsewhere.

It is further divided into the right and left part, even as the brain is, by the pia Mater* 1.9 which immediately invests the same, which may be seen in the Marrow of an Oxe in∣differently boyled. Hence there may be a Palsie of only one side of the body.

Now it is divided into many little Cords as it were, about the sixt and seventh Ver∣tebra* 1.10 of the Chest: and if the spinal Mar∣row of a body newly dead▪ be presently plunged in cold water, and a separation of these cords made, you may see the shape of an Horses tail, (espe∣cially towards the end) divided into many long Hairs: so that according to Laurentius, the Nerves also of the Back and Loyns, do spring from the Marrow of the Neck.

It is covered with a tripple Membrane, the first which imme∣diately* 1.11 covers it, is from the pia Mater.

The second is from the dura Mater and cleaves to the former, Which two, according to the Observation of Spigelius, are not separated any distance one from another, as they were within the Skul, but touch one the other.

The third being external springs according to Galen from a strong Ligament, which binds together the foreparts of the Vertebra's, and in the hinder part ends into a strong Coat, least in bending or extending the Back-bone, the Marrow should be hurt.

A thick and clammy humor is poured round about this Coat, to moisten the same.

Afterwards the Marrow is shut up in the Vertebrae, least it should be hurt (as the brain is shut up in the Skul) seeing it is a noble part, and the original of the Nerves. Therefore the Ancients called the Cavity of the Spina or Back-bone Hieran Surigga, the holy Pipe.

In the beginning of this Marrow, while it is yet in the Skul, there appears ingraven.

An Hollow Cavity, which Galen calls the Ventricle of the Brainlet; others* 1.12 call it the fourth Ventricle of the brain, though it is not in the brain. But I shall term it the noble Ventricle of the Marrow. This is most solid, most pure, most subtile, but least of all, for it containes a matter of geater force and faculty then the rest, as Galen saies.

And because, after a straight even progress, it is widened on each side, and sharpened afterwards into a point, because of this shape tis called Calamus Scrip∣torius, the Writing Pen or Quil.

Now from the Cerebellum or* 1.13 Brainlet, which is joyned to this Marrow, another and middle half of this Ventricle is constituted, as it were a cover; so that all this Cavity is between the brainlet and Medulla oblongata, or production of the Marrow, but the cheif Cavity is the lowermost, which is in the Marrow.

The Use of this Ventricle I hold to* 1.14 be this, viz. that it should be the place where Animal spirits are Generated and Elaborated. For this Ventricle is 1. The most pure and subtile. 2. It hath a Cavity sufficient for that pur∣pose. 3. It is seated in such a place, that it can poure forth Animal spirits, into all the Nerves round about it. And therefore Herophilus did rightly judg, that this was the most principal Ven∣tricle.

Nor can I devise how it came to pass* 1.15 that certain learned Men could not see these weighty Arguments, who have written without cause, that I assigned the Generation of Animal Spi∣rits to the Calamus Scriptorius, without any reasons moving me thereto.

Now must we think with Spigelius, that this Ven∣tricle did only result by consequence, out of the round particles of the Brain, touching one another without any design of Nature: for Nature doth nothing to no end, no not when she seems most of all to do so.

Others conceive that the Animal Spirit is bred in the fore Ventricles of the Brain.

But they are full of Excrements, whose receptacles they rather are, as appears by the Glandula Pituitaria unto them, and in that they are often found filled with Flegm, and abundance of water.

Others in the Rete Mirabile, others* 1.16 in the Plexus Choroides.

But in these we hold the Animal Spirit is prepared, but not Genera∣ted, For nature is wont to provide intertwinings of Vessels for the preparation of any matter: and seeing these Vessels are so smal, how can it be generated in them, especially seeing so many Excrements of the brain flow through the Ventri∣cles.

Others will have them to be wrought in the sub∣stance of the brain. Others in the lengthened body of the spinal Marrow. But the Generation of so subtile a Spirit, did require some Cavity, which is also allowed to the Generation of the vital Spirits.

For which cause some have been induced to allot the making of the natural spirit to be in the right Ven∣cle of the Heart, because there is no Cavity in the Liver.

I am therefore of opinion that the Animal Spirit is prepared in the Rete Mirable, and yet more in the Plexus Choroides, and that is generated and wrought up in this Cavity of the Medulla Elongata, or in the noble Ventricle; and afterward, as much of it as not derived into the spinal Marrow and the Nerves of the brain, is preserved and retained in the whole brain, as in a Store-house.

The Use of the lengthened and spinal Marrow, is to be the original of all the* 1.17 Nerves. For from that part thereof within the Skull, those Nerves arise which are commonly attributed to the Brain, being usually reckoned to be seven pair. But from the longest part thereof which is in the Back∣bone, Anatomists do reckon thirty pair of Nerves to arise, viz. as many as there are holes in the Verte∣brae.

Mean while we must not so understand the matter, as though only so many branches or Cords did thence arise. For every Nerve arise▪ with many little strings or Fibres, which going out at the hole of any Verte∣bra, are there joyned together by the Membranes, as if the Nerve came out of one branch.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The right Disse∣ction of the Head must begin at the lower Part.
• * 1.2

  See the Figure of the Section in the Manual of Nerves.
• * 1.3

  The beginning of the Spinal Marrow.
• * 1.4

  An Objection.
• * 1.5

  The Answer.
• * 1.6

  A new Opinion of the Author, that the Marrow is the Original of the brain.
• * 1.7

  A proof hereof.
• * 1.8

  The spinal Marrow divided.
• * 1.9

  Another division.
• * 1.10

  Another division.
• * 1.11

  The Coats of the Marrow.
• * 1.12

  A noble Ven∣tricle in the Marrow.
• * 1.13

  The cover of the noble Ventricle is from the Brainlet.
• * 1.14

  The true place where Animal Spirits are ge∣nerated accor∣ding to our Author.
• * 1.15

  A Proof.
• * 1.16

  The preparati∣on of the Animal Spirits where it is?
• * 1.17

  This Marrow the beginning of all Nerves.