A systeme of anatomy, treating of the body of man, beasts, birds, fish, insects, and plants illustrated with many schemes, consisting of variety of elegant figures, drawn from the life, and engraven in seventy four folio copper-plates. And after every part of man's body hath been anatomically described, its diseases, cases, and cures are concisely exhibited. The first volume containing the parts of the lowest apartiments of the body of man and other animals, etc. / by Samuel Collins ...

CHAP. XLIII. Of the Corpora Striata.

THe Corpora Striata upon the Dissection of the Brain, * 1.1 seem to be lodged within the Ventricles, but upon a true inspection, are found to be seated without them; and I humbly conceive, that they are the Origens of the Medulla oblonga••a, whose Heads so incline one towards another, * 1.2 that they are almost conjoyned; And from the Angles (by which they approach each other), the Fornix is derived with a double Origen. * 1.3 And the Corpora Stria∣ta seem to be united by a transverse Medullary Process; but their Termina∣tions or lesser parts of these Lentiform Processes are more acute, being tur∣ned backward, and do after a manner form two sides of a Triangle, to whose anterior Surface the Corpus Callosum is conjoyned for a good space.

When the Brain is Dissected, and so brought to a Plain, that the Lenti∣form Processes (being the tops of the Medulla oblongata) are laid bare, * 1.4 if you cut them in the middle (where they are fastned to the Corpus Callosum) you may plainly discover great variety of Streaks, making their progress se∣veral ways, upward and downward, forward and backward in parallel lines.

Dr. Willis, giveth a good description of the Corpora Striata in these words; Ne quis dubitet quin istae striae, velut ductus sive canales, factae à natura fuerint pro Spirituum Animalium è corpore Calloso in Medullam oblongatam, * 1.5 & contra itu reditu{que} These Streaks of the Corpora Striata are formed by Na∣ture, as so many Chanels, for the free egress and regress of the Animal Spi∣rits out of the Corpus callosum into the Medulla oblongata; * 1.6 And I conceive the Corpora Striata to be a texture of Vessels, and their Streaks to be so many Filaments, out of which it may seem probable, that the first rudiments and productions of the Olfactory and Ocular Nerves are formed, and afterward propagated to the Medulla oblongata, seated near the Corpora Striata: * 1.7 And it is farther conceived by Learned Dr. Walter Needham, that the Corpora Striata are the first Origens of the Medulla spinalis, a system of numerous nervous Filaments, the rudiments of the Vertebral and other Nerves, which receive their first rise and original from the Medulla spinalis.

The Corpora Striata, though they are outwardly invested with a white Membrane as with a fine Vail, yet they are rendred more beauteous within with a variegated substance, composed of White, streaked with Black, which give a mutual foil, as so many contrary Colours, sporting themselves as dif∣ferent Rays, illustrating each other.

The Black is made up of a number of Filaments, and the White of a pulpy substance, interlining the vacuities of these oblong Fibres, which take their progress all along the length of the Corpora Striata: * 1.8 And according to Learned Dr. Willis, do run up and down, to and from the Medulla oblongata, as so many Chanels, wherein the Animal Spirits are transmitted from the Cor∣pus callosum to the Corpora Striata, and Medulla oblongata, and (as the Re∣nowned Author will have it) from it to the Corpus callosum.

This Hypothesis is grounded upon a conceived circulation of the Succus Nutricius in the Brain, but I most humbly conceive, with deference to the Excellent Author, that the Filaments do wholly descend from the Corpus callo∣sum to the Corpora Striata, Medulla oblongata, and Spinalis; So that according to the Structure and Position of the Fibres, * 1.9 The Nervous Liquor (in which the Animal Spirits reside) streameth from the Cortex, through the various Medullary Processes to the Base of the Brain, and from thence hath no re∣trograde motion, by reason (as I conceive) the great design of Nature is to supply the Nerves springing from the Medulla oblongata, and Spinalis, with Animal Spirits and Liquor; So that all the numerous Nerves do receive their fruitful streams of Succus Nutricius, from the Brain, Cerebellum, and Medulla spinalis, as so many Fountains transmitting several Rivulets into the whole Body, giving Sense, Motion, and Nourishment (in some degree) to all parts, which do expend so large a proportion of Nervous Juice, that no su∣perfluity is left in the Base of the Brain, and its adjacent parts, to supply a Retrograde motion (which if granted) would hinder the descending cur∣rent of the Animal Liquor, and Spirits, toward the lower Region of the Brain. And the contrary descending and ascending streams of the Succus Nervosus, and its Spirits, would much impede, if not wholly obstruct each others opposite motions.

And farthermore, it is not needful that any return of the Nervous Li∣quor (impregnated with Animal Spirits) should be made from the Base of the Brain to the more inward Recesses and Cortex, when there is a production of Animal Liquor continually made out of the albuminous part of the Blood in the ambient parts of the Brain, and thence propagated downward to the several Medullary Processes to invigorate and nourish them, as they pass to the lower Region of the Brain, Medulla spinalis, and Cerebellum, to act the fruitful Nerves springing from them, with Spirits and Vigor.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Corpord Striata are the Origens of the Medulla oblongata.
• * 1.2

  The Connexi∣on the Corpora Striata.
• * 1.3

  The Figure of the Corpora Striata.
• * 1.4

  The Corpora Striata are en∣dued with va∣riety of streaks.
• * 1.5

  The use of the Corpora Strid∣ta.
• * 1.6

  The Structure of the Corpo∣ra Striata.
• * 1.7

  The Corpora Striata are the Origen of the Medulld Sp••∣nalis.
• * 1.8

  The Progress of the Animal Spirits accor∣ding to Dr. Willis.
• * 1.9

  The outmost Spirits have no retrograde motion in the Brain.