The anatomy of human bodies, comprehending the most modern discoveries and curiosities in that art to which is added a particular treatise of the small-pox & measles : together with several practical observations and experienced cures ... / written in Latin by Ijsbrand de Diemerbroeck ... ; translated from the last and most correct and full edition of the same, by William Salmon ...

CHAP. VI. Of that Part of the Vena Cava below the Diaphragma, and the Veins discharging themselves into it.

AS all the Parts seated above the Diaphragma transmit the resi∣due of the Blood remaining after Nu∣trition through the lesser Vein to the Vena Cava, so do all the Parts below the Diaphragma.

I. 1. Through the broad Orifice, where it adheres to the Liver innu∣merable little Veins discharge them∣selves out of the Liver into the Vena Cava. Between which and the Vena Porta, there is said to be a great com∣munication. Riolanus mentions a Valve within the Trunk of the hollow Vein near the Liver, to let in the Blood out of the Liver into the hollow Vein, but to prevent its egress into the Liver. This he says was discover'd by Stephanus and Silvius and found in Cows, but whether in Men or no, he knows not.

II. 2. The Adipous or Fatty Vein, both right and left. The left proceed∣ing with its Roots from the Exterior Membrane of the Kidney, the Fat of it, and the Kernel laid upon it, is in∣serted into the Left side of the Trunk of the hollow Vein a little below the Emulgent. The Right, proceeding from the same Parts most commonly approaches the higher and middle Emulgent Channel, but seldom both enter the Emulgent, and more rarely the hollow Vein.

III. 3. The Emulgent, large, but short, and both right and left. These each of them adhere with their stringy Roots to the Kidney of it's own side, which meeting at length a∣bout the middle and hollow Part of the Kidney, break forth out of it some∣times with one, two, three, and some∣times more Branches, after their egress concurring into one short and broad Channel, which descending somewhat obliquely opens with a broad Orifice into the Trunk of the hollow Vein, the Left in a place somewhat higher then the Right. At the Orifice of the Emulgent gaping into the hol∣low Vein stands a remarkable Valve, looking upward from the Inferior Part of the Orifice and granting a free In∣flux of the Blood out of the Kidney into the hollow Vein, but prevent∣ing the reflux of it into the Emul∣gent.

There is great variety in the Num∣ber of the Emulgents; which though most commonly are from each Kid∣ney, yet sometimes two, many times single by themselves, many times meeting half way, fall into the Vena Cava; and only one rises from one Kidney, and two from the other.

Sometimes a Branch descends from the Breast to the Emulgent, which is believed in this place to intermix with the Roots of the Azygos, and here and there to unite. Sometimes a Branch slides down to the Emulgent from the Loins and Spinal Pith. Seldom any Branch is extended thither from the Succenturiated Kernel. Sometimes also little Branches gape into it from the Neighbouring Parts; for Nature often varys in these particulars.

IV. 4. The Spermatic or Semi∣nal, of each side one, a Right and Left. Riolanus writes, that sometimes in Lustful Persons that have been hang'd for Adultery, he has often found these Veins double especially on the Right side. But there is no certain Reason why men should be more Lustful for

that; and therefore I question his As∣sertion.

The Right-hand Vein enters the higher Part of the Trunk it self, be∣low the Emulgent of the same side, which has been often observ'd by Galen and Vesalius. At its enterance into the hollow Vein, it bunches forth with somewhat a thick Prominence; which Riolanus believes to proceed from the Valve distended by the ascending Blood, and looking toward the hollow Vein. This Valve by reason of its extream smallness and slenderness can hardly be shewn, but reason perswades us it must be there; there being a necessity of some obstacle to prevent the Blood from flowing back from the hol∣low into the Spermatic Vein. To which end 'tis probable that all the Veins gaping into the Vena Cava are so furnish'd, unless the Iliac and Sub clavial, whose Valves are more re∣mote.

The Left Seminal enters the middle Left Emulgent, at the lower Part, guarded with a Valve at the Orifice. From this another Branch is some∣times sent forth to the Trunk of the Cava.

But Nature varies in the Spermatic Veins: for that their ends sometimes enter the Cava on both sides, some∣times the Emulgent on both sides; and the Left enters the Cava, and some∣times though rare the Emulgent and Cava on both sides with a forked end.

These Veins rise in Men without the Abdomen from the Testicles them∣selves, and the Warty substance, from which they carry back the Blood re∣maining after nourishment of the Parts, and generation of Seed to the hollow Vein, In Women they rise within the Abdomen, partly from the bottom of the Womb and neighbouring Mem∣branes, with innumerable stringy Roots; partly they rise up from the Testicles. Besides, it has been observ'd by some that three or four Roots are extended further from the Spinal Pi•…•…h.

V. 5. The Lumbaries, two, three or four, which enter the Trunk of the Cava, at the hinder seat looking to∣ward the Vertebres, so that their in∣gress cannot be perceiv'd but by rai∣sing the Cava. They proceed from the Lumbary Muscles and the Spinal Pith, between four V•…•…rtebres of the Loyns through the holes of the Nerves perforated on each side, and receive on each side a little Branch inserted into the involvings of the Marrow, and de∣scending all along the whole length of it, through those M•…•…ninx's that enfold it. This Riolanus believes at its beginning to be united by Anastomosis with the beginning of the Root of the ascending Jugular; which seems not probable.

VI. 6. The two Illiacs, large Veins, which about the fifth Verte∣ber of the Loyns, and the beginning of the Os Sacrum, enter the end of Trunk of the Cava; so that the Ca∣va seems to rest upon these two Veins as upon two Thighs. A little above their Ingress into the lower Belly, be∣forethey are united with the Cava, they are guarded with a large Valve looking upward, which transmits the ascending, but stops the descending Blood. These Iliacs discharge into the Cava the Blood of all the Inferior Parts, brought to them out of the lesser Veins which are under them.

Notes

• The Veins of the Liver
• The Adipo∣sa.
• The Emul∣gent.
• The Sper∣matic or Se∣minal.
• The Lum∣bary.
• The Iliacs.