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. XVIII. Of the Sternon or Breast-bone.

THe Bone of the Breast, which in the fore-part of the Chest rests upon the Ribs, and is spread thereupon (whence they suppose tis call'd Sternum) is by Hypocra∣tes termed Stethos: which Word nevertheless sometimes signifies.

• 1 The whole forepart of the Chest.
• 2 Its Pain.
• 3 The Breast-bone as in this place.
• 4 The Orifice of the Stomach.
• 5 The Sword-fashion'd Gristle.

Others call this bone Os Gladiale or Ensisorme the Sword∣bone or Sword-fashion'd bone, because of the shape of a Sword or rather such a Dagger as was used by the Ancients: for it is convex, long and broad.

Its Substance is partly bony, but fungous and red, partly Gristly.

It consists of divers bones, not of one, as is commonly seen in old Men, the diversity of its bones appears, when you remove its Membrances. In Infants it is wholly grist∣ly, excepting its first bone. Moreover, the upper bones are sooner made than the lower, and the middle parts, than the outmost: so that in conclusion, eight bones are found in the Breast of a Child, which after seven years grow together, and become fewer, so that in grown per∣sons there are sometimes three, sometimes four, sometimes more bones. But the first and last remain in grown per∣sons as in Children; but the middle ones growing to∣gether, the number of bones comes to vary in that place.

These Bones are distinguished by transverse lines, and are knit together by Sanchondrosis; for the Gristles are in∣terposed like Ligaments.

The first and uppermost bone, is large and thick, plain and uneven, of an Halfmoon fashion above, representing the joyning of a Dagger blade into the haft, some term it Ju∣gulum the Throat-pit, others call it Furculam the little fork.

It hath on each side an hollowness in the upper part, to

receive the Heads of the Claviculae or Channel-bones, in which copulation Gristles come between.

And another Hollowness within engraven in the middle, that it may give way to the descending Trachea or We∣sand.

The second is more narrow and hath many hollownesses on each side to receive the Gristles of the Ribs.

The third is yet less, but broader than the second, and ends into the Gristle* 1.1 which is termed Kup••o idès Sword-fashi∣on'd, and Mucronata pointed, because to∣wards the end it is sharp like the point of a Sword. The Arabians term it, the Pomegranate; Avicen calls it Epi∣glottalis, and the common name is Scutiformis Shield-fashi∣oned.

This Gristle is triangular and oblong, sometimes round at the End, and sometimes broad, otherwhiles cloven, whence some call it Furc••lla the little fork; 'tis seldome double.

Sometimes 'tis perforated, for the Dug-veins and Arte∣ries, which are accompanied by a Nerve. Sometimes in aged persons, it attains a bony Substance, Vestingus hath found it a Fingers length not without great hurt to the Stomach, and trouble when a man bows himself. Pa∣vius also saw here a bony Substance, in a person troubled with extream shortness of breath.

This if it be too much pressed and bowed inwards, the parts beneath it are hurt, viz. the Liver and Stomach, and the Infants perish for want of Nutriment: of which see Condronchius and Septalius, Zacutus, Wilhelmus Piso. This Disease is by some Women cal'd, the Hearts compres∣sion.

Folius hath observed two Muscles placed on the side hereof, by which this Gristle is lightly moved downwards and inwards.

The Cavity appearing outwardly in this place, is called Fovea, or Scrobiculus Cordis.

The Use of the Sternum or Breast-bone,

• 1. Like a shield to defend the Heart from external dangers.
• 2. To sustain the Mediastinum.
• 3. To collect the Ribs and fasten themselves one to ano∣ther.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Cartilago Ensiformis.