The anatomy of humane bodies epitomized wherein all parts of man's body, with their actions and uses, are succinctly described, according to the newest doctrine of the most accurate and learned modern anatomists / by a Fellow of the College of Physicians, London.

CHAP. XXII.

Of the Auricula.

AS the Eyes are placed in the upper part of the Body like two Watchmen to descry ap∣proaching danger; so are the Ears there seated also, that they might give information of what the Eyes cannot discover either in the night for want of light, or through some thick and opaque Body which the sight cannot penetrate. And as the Eyes contemplate the wonderfull works of God, whereby the mind may conceive of his Infi∣nity; so the Ears are the Inlets or Receivers of verbal instruction in all wisedom and science. For they are the organs of hearing, and are in number two, that the one failing, yet we might hear with the other. They are placed in the Head, because sounds ascend.

The parts of the Ear are either outward or inward. The outward is called Auricula, which is only an adjuvant instrument of hearing, being spread like a Van to gather and receive the sounds. Its upper part is called Ala or Pinna the Wing;* 1.1 and its lower and soft Lobe, usually Infima auri∣cula. It has several protuberances or eminences, and cavities. Its outer protuberance that makes its circumference, from its winding is called He∣lix; and that which is opposite to it, Anthelix: but that next the Temple, because in some it is hairy, is called Hircus or Tragus; and that which is opposite to it, to which the soft lobe of the Ear is annexed, Antitragus, which likewise

in some is hairy. Its Cavities are three. The inmost, because of the yellow Ear-wax (as we call it) that is gathered in it, is named Alvea∣rium; as also Meatus auditorius: the next to this outwards which is bigger, from its tortuosity or winding is called Concha. The third is that be∣twixt the Helix and Anthelix, which has had no name imposed on it.

The constituent parts of the Auricula are ei∣ther common or proper.* 1.2 The common are Cuticula, Cutis, Membrana nervea, and fat in the Lobe. The proper are the Muscles, Veins, Arteries, Nerves and the Cartilage. As concerning the Muscles, they are set down in their proper trea∣tise. The Veins come from the external Jugu∣lars; the Arteries from the Carotides; the Nerves from the second pair of the Neck, being joined with the harder process of the seventh pair. As for the Cartilage, it is a substance that is fittest for this place. ••or if a Bone had been here, it had been troublesome, and might by many accidents have been broken off: if Flesh, it had been subject to con••usion. It serves to keep this outer part of the Ear expanded and open, and is tied to Os pe∣trosum by a strong Ligament which riseth from the Pericranium.

The uses of the outward Ear are these:* 1.3 First, it serveth for beauty. Secondly, to help the re∣ceiving of the sounds. For first, it gathereth them being dispersed in the Air. Secondly, it doth moderate their Impetus, so that they come gently to the Tympanum. Such as have it cut off upon any occasion, are very much prejudic'd in their hearing, which becomes confused with a certain murmur or swooing like the fall of waters.

Both behind and below the Ears there are se∣veral Glands outwardly under the Skin, that are called Parotides. But there are two more notable than the rest, near one another; of which one is lesser, and is conglobate; but the other bigger, consisting as it were of many lesser, and is con∣glomerate. These serve to sustain the vessels that ascend this way, and are usually reckoned as Emunctories of the Brain. In the conglomerate Gland the Saliva is separated.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The names of its parts.
• * 1.2

  Its consti∣tuent parts.
• * 1.3

  Ʋses.