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. LXXXII. Of the Clavicle, Sternon, and Ribs.

THE Clavicles † 1.1, are called Claviculae by the Latines, Quod instar Clavis scapulam cum sterno claudant & firment, as Learned Diemer∣broeck will have it, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 by the Greeks, because they are conceived to shut up the Thorax.

They have their Connexion in one extremity with a Process of the Scapula, * 1.2 and in the other with the first Bone of the Sternon, As the Heads seated, on the extremities of the Scapula, are inarticulated with the Sinus of the Process of the Scapula, and with the first Bone of the Sternon, * 1.3 in which the Sinus are oblong, and go from its Anterior downward towards the Posterior part of the Bone, where the Sinus are broader then in the hinder region, and are discernable to be higher in the inside, then out∣side, and the heads of the Clavieles are so framed, that they may comply with the Figure and Situation of the Sinus.

The head of the Clavicle (inarticulated with the Sternon † 1.4) is compo∣sed of diverse Angles; whereupon it seemeth somewhat to resemble a Tri∣angle, of which one Angle being obtuse, is seated in the forepart of its head, inclining somewhat to the hinder; The second Angle being also obtuse, is placed in the upper region of the Head of the Clavicle, bending a little to∣ward the Posterior. The third Angle is more acute, and long, and may be discovered in the lower part of the Head, and tendeth downward; and as most of the Angles of the head of the Claviole (inarticulated with the Bone of the Sternon) are obtuse; so also are the sides of the Triangle unequal, and run in bevil lines outward; and the Line drawn from the first Angle to the second is the shortest; and the other drawn from the Second to the Third Angle, much exceeds the first Line in dimensions. And the third Line passing between the first and third Angle, is the longest of all, and the most crooked.

This head of the Clavicle is in a great part encircled with a Cartilage, * 1.5 whereby it is rendred (answering the greatness of the Sinus of the bones of the Sternon) smooth, and fit for motion, by reason, if the grisle be parted from the head of the Bone, (relating to the Clavicle) it appeareth rough and unequal. This Cartilage, passing between the head of the Clavicle, and the Sinus and Sternon, is very thin, and of equal dimensions in all parts in point of thickness, * 1.6 which is very small; and this Grisle is bedewed with an unctuous Matter, to render the head of the Bone and Sinus moist and slippery, and the Joynt more easy in motion, which is bound about with Ligaments, orbicularly embracing it, and keeping the head of the Cla∣vicle firm in the Sinus of the Sternon.

And that of the Clavicle which adjoyneth to the Sternon and Scapula, * 1.7 is somewhat more spungy and fistulous, then the other seated in the middle, which is endued with a more hard and solid Compage, and is protuberant in each extemity, where it is beautified with Heads, conjoyned by Liga∣ments to Sinus, engraven in the Process of the Scapula, and first Bone of the Sternon.

As to the Figure of the Clavicle it is very various, * 1.8 as endued in some part with a Convex, in others with a Concave Figure, winding in several po∣stures, which is very wonderful; and as it comes from the first Bone of the Sternon (with which it is articulated) it is rendred by nature crooked out∣wardly, and dressed in its forepart with a Convex, and in its hinder with a Concave Surface; and the Clavicle is rendred Prominent in its fore-part, approaching the Process of the Scapula, where it is after a double manner Convex, and Concave in different parts, adjoyning to each other.

The Clavicles are made crooked, and endued with various Convex and Concave Surfaces, for the better originations and insertions of Muscles; and they are also rendred inwardly Concave, to give way to the Arteries, Veins, and Gulet.

And the Clavicles are articulated with the Process of the Scapula † 1.9 to sup∣port it in the various motions of the Arm, * 1.10 lest the Scapula coming too much forward toward the Thorax, should hinder the free play of its elevation, De∣pression, Adduction, and Abduction; whereupon nature hath kept the Scapula from the Ribs, by the help of the Clavicle, as conjoyned to the Pro∣cess of the Scapula, sprouting out of it at some distance from the Sinus.

And it is most wisely ordered by the great contrivance of the Omnipo∣tent Architect (whom we ought for ever to admire and adore) that the Clavicles come sooner to maturity then any Bones of the Body, * 1.11 and may be truly called Ossa 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as being first Membranous and Cartilaginous, be∣come bony in six weeks, or thereabouts, from the first Conception, and are then conjoyned to the Process of the Scapula in one extremity, and in the other to the first Bone of the Sternon, by reason the Scapula and Sternon are at first of a Membranous or Cartilaginous Nature, so that they want the support of the Clavicles, to keep the Scapula from compressing the Heart, when the Thorax is soft and tender, as circumscribed only with the Ribs and Sternon endued with a Membranous or Cartilaginous substance.

Having Treated of the Clavicles (of which one Extremity is articulated with the first Bone of the Sternon) my design at this time is to speak of the adjacent Bones of the Sternon, which are a Compage of many Bones con∣joyned to the Anterior part, or extremities of the Ribs, by the interposition of Cartilages.

The Sternon is seated between the terminations of the Ribs in the Anterior region of the Thorax, to guard the noble housholdstuff of the Viscera, * 1.12 the Heart, and Lungs, as with a Buckler, to which the Cartilaginous part of the true Ribs are affixed.

This Bone, or rather composition of Bones is endued with a fungous sub∣stance, less White then the other Bones of the Body, and is grisly in Infants, except in the upper part of it, which is bony, where it is articulated with the Clavicles, to give a greater strength to their Articulation.

This Compage is made in Children of Six, * 1.13 and seldom or never of Seven or Eight Bones, conjoyned to the Ribs by Cartilages, of which the lowest is the sword-like Cartilage. These Bones, after Eight or Ten Months, being accomplished in Children, do coalesce into fewer Bones, per Syncondrosim; that in persons of mature age only, Three or Four Bones can be discerned in the Sternon (distinguished by transverse Sinus) which sometimes becomes one in old age.

The First Bone of the Sternon exceeds the other in dimensions of large∣ness and thickness; * 1.14 in its upper and middle part it is hollowed with semi∣lunary Trench, styled the Jugulum by some; on each side of this Bone is

engraven a Sinus to give a reception to the heads of the Clavicles, to which they are conjoyned by the interposition of Cartilages; and also in the inner region of this Bone a Sinus is formed to give a more free passage to the Aspera Arteria.

The Second Bone of the Sternon is united to the First (by the mediation of a Grisle) and is endued with more slenderness and length then the high∣est, * 1.15 and in each side is engraven with Five or Six Sinus (seated at unequal spaces from each other) into which the Cartilages of the Ribs are enter∣tained.

The Third Bone of the Sternon is the last, * 1.16 in order, and the least in bulk, and terminates into a Cartilage, which is styled by the Latines Cartilago En∣fiformis, by the Greeks 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which is oblong, and endued with a Tri∣anglar Figure, and is for the most part one entire substance, and rarely di∣vided into two portions, between which the Blood-vessels are transmitted; And Learned Diemerbroeck saith, it is sometimes adorned with a round Figure, perforated to give a free passage to the mammary Artery, and Vein, which renowned Riolan saith is more often in Women.

Most commonly it is rendred crooked outwardly, * 1.17 and sometimes inward∣ly, to the great prejudice of the Ventricle and neighbouring parts, in refe∣rence to Convulsive motions of the Stomach, and an Atrophy, difficulty of breathing, as hindring the free play of the Midriff, when the carnous Fi∣bres endeavour to bring it to a Plain in Respiration. Sometimes this Grisle is turned into a Bone in old Men, which giveth a great check to the freedom of breathing, and is incurable, as not being capable to be removed by the power of Art. Westlingius observed this Cartilage to equal a Finger in length, extended to the Navil, which highly discomposed the Body in Flexion, and disturbed the coction of Aliment in the Stomach, and distribution of the Chyle through the Intestines into the milky vessels of the Mesentery, which was done by the compression of the Stomach and Intestines.

Folius assigneth two Muscles to the elevation and depression of the Car∣tilage, * 1.18 which are not mentioned by any other Author; and I conceive this Cartilage is immoveable, except it be in persons labouring with a ve∣hement Astma, wherein I saw in Mr. Edling an Apothecary, the Sternon to be lifted up in Inspiration, and depressed in Expiration; so that in this per∣son the ensiform Cartilage, was moved up and down with the other bones of the Sternon.

Outwardly in this Cartilage may be felt a Cavity, * 1.19 called by the Greeks 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and by the Latines, Fovea, or Scorbiculum cordis, it being vulgarly apprehended to adjoyn to the Cone of the Heart (which in truth inclineth toward the Left Pap) seated at some distance from it.

As to the Origen of the Sternon of a Foetus, * 1.20 it seemeth to sport it self in various Bones, and in the Third or Fourth Month, it is wholly Mem∣branous or Cartilaginous.

Some Anatomists do hold about the Fifth or Sixth Months, the Sternon is rendred bony, and is made (up as Fallopius, and Bartholine will have it) of Eight Bones; but Learned and Curious Kerckingius hath observed in many Dissections of Foetus, that in the Fifth Month he found only Two, in the Sixth sometimes Four or Five; and another time only One; and the Eighth Month sometimes he hath found Six, and other times Three, Four, or Five; and Nature in this ossification of the Sternon, useth greater freedom, as be∣ing tied up to no certain method in it, and sometimes beginneth its ossifi∣cation in the beginning, or middle, and sometimes in the sides of the Sternon,

and sometimes it maketh a perpendicular line, and other times a line paral∣lel to an Horizontal.

The Thorax (being the middle Apartiment of the curious Fabrick, * 1.21 relating to Mans Body) is strengthened behind with a Column, consisting in Twelve vertebers of the Back, beautified with the fine carved work of various Pro∣cesses.

This fine middle story is also guarded before with the Bones of the Sternon, as with a Breast-plate, and on each side is encircled with Twelve Ribs, as so many strong bony Arches, made inwardly Concave, to render the Thorax capable to receive the noble Supellex of the Heart and Lungs, the one be∣ing a curious Machine to make good the motion of the Blood; and the other is an Organ of Air (consisting in many Pipes and Vesicles) to re∣fine and exalt the vital Liquor by its nitrous and elastick Particles.

The Ribs are Twelve in number (encompassing each side of the Thorax) and are seldom Eleven, but sometimes Thirteen, * 1.22 attended with so many Ver∣tebers, instituted by Nature in some part for the articulation of the Ribs, endued with a semi-circular Figure, to make the middle story more spacious for the reception and free play of the Viscera, in point of motion.

The Ribs are endued with various length and magnitude; † 1.23 the First and Second are the shortest, and have the most short Cartilages, appendant to them, and the Sixth Seventh and Eighth exceed them not in length, and are adorned with the most long Cartilages; and the shortness of the First, * 1.24 Second, and Third Rib is compensated with another dimension of largeness, and their Cartilages in like manner answer them in greatness. And the Cartilages (relating to the six upper Ribs) are framed with spaces passing between them, and aequidistant from each other; but the Seventh, Eighth, * 1.25 and Ninth Ribs, do closely joyn to each other, without interstices, filling up the intervals (found in the upper Ribs) with their substance; and the Cartila∣ges of the bastard Ribs do terminate into an acute Bone; and the true Ribs have more large extremities: The Cartilage of the first Rib is somewhat broader in its termination, where it is conjoyned to the Sternon, and the Cartilages of the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Rib, are made somewhat more narrow in their progress, and terminate into Heads, articu∣lated with the Sternon.

The Ribs are not adorned with the same smoothness and evenness in all parts; in their inner region, where they look toward the Pleura, * 1.26 they are beautified with a smooth surface; but the Third and the following Ribs to the Tenth have a Sinus, engraven in them (adjoyning to the vertebers of the Back) formed for the reception of the Blood-vessels in their passage down the Ribs; and these Sinus (ordained for the entertainment of the in∣tercostal Nerves, as well as Sanguiducts) render the lower part of the Ribs more thin and slender then the upper.

The outward and convexe Surface of the Ribs, is not every where smooth, by reason in that part (where the Ribs are conjoyned to the Vertebers of the Back) they are framed into Heads, whereby they are articulated with the Sinus, relating to the Spondyles of the Chine, where they are also made rough and uneven, as fit places out of, and into which Ligaments are pro∣pagated and implanted, tying the Ribs to the Bodies and transverse Proces∣ses of the Vertebers. Farthermore, in the outward region of the Ribs, * 1.27 where they part from the transverse Processes of the Spondyles, they are endued with little rough Protuberances, made for the Tendons of Muscles,

which are implanted into the tops of the transverse Processes, and into the Protuberances of the Ribs.

And the Ribs at a greater distance from the transverse Processes of the Ver∣tebers, * 1.28 have some Asperities in the outward Region, made by nature for the insertions of Muscles moving the Thorax; and out of these very small Protu∣berancies, the outward intercostal Muscles take their rise, which do not reach only from the lower region of the upper Rib to the higher part of the lower, but also these intercostal Muscles are extended from the outside of one Rib to the outside of the other; and the other parts of the Ribs are smooth and even, except where the intercostal Muscles borrow their Origen, and into which they are inserted.

The Ribs are divided into true, * 1.29 and spurious, of which the first are con∣joyned to the Bones of the Sternon by the interposition of cartilaginous pro∣ductions, and they are the Seven upper Ribs, of which the two first are cal∣led 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, retortae, the two next have the appellative of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, solidae, the three other are styled 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, pectorales.

The lower Ribs are named Spurious, * 1.30 of which the Four first, with their Cartilages reflected upward, and mutually cohering, are conjoyned in their lower region to the Cartilages of the upper Ribs, and the last Cartilage which is the least, is sometimes affixed to the Diaphragme, and sometimes to the Right Muscle. These Ribs have the appellative of Bastard, as seeming to be imperfect, by reason they are not affixed to the Sternon (as the upper Ribs) by the mediation of Cartilages.

The Ribs are not composed of one entire similar substance, because part of their Compage is bony, and the other cartilaginous.

The bony substance of the Ribs is not every where alike, * 1.31 by reason where they are conjoyned to the Sinus of the Spondyle (constituting the Back) they have a more solid and compact substance then in the sides of the Thorax, and the Sternon seated in its anterior part, (in which the compage of the Ribs is spungy) is encircled with a kind of Scale or Flake, and is most thin, when it degenerates into a grisle, not endued with one uniforme substance, which is most soft in the lower Ribs; whereupon some have called the bastard Ribs 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, quasi Cartilagines; and the Cartilages of the upper have more solid substance then the other, and become bony in old persons; and in Sheep and Bullocks are ossified in a middle age; in these Animals some part of the Ribs are covered without and within with a cartilaginous friable bony sub∣stance. * 1.32

The Ribs are not endued with one kind of Articulation, by reason the Nine upper ones are conjoyned by a double joynt, to give them the greater strength, and the Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth are articulated with one Joynt; and the Ribs conjoyned by a double Joynt, are adorned with a dou∣ble head, of which one insinuateth it self into the Sinus, relating to the body of the Verteber; and the other head climbeth up the transverse Process of the same Verteber, till it hath arrived its Sinus, to which it is conjoyned in the side of the Apex of the said Process.

The First Rib is articulated with a round Head, * 1.33 entring into a Sinus, en∣graven in the body of the first Verteber of the Back, and afterward the Rib ascends to the transverse Process of the Verteber, till the Rib makes an en∣trance with another head into a Sinus, hollowed in the Apex of the said Pro∣cess; So Vesalius: But Learned Dr. Mayo conceiveth, that a Protuberance of the Spine enters into a Sinus of the Rib, in this Second articulation of the Rib with the Chine.

The Second and the Seven following Ribs, are articulated, not with round, but with heads protuberating into obtuse Angles, entring into the Sinus, common to the bodies of two Vertebers, and have the other heads articulated with transverse Processes, after the same manner of the first Rib, with this difference, that the transverse Processes of the upper Vertebers have their Si∣nus engraven into the lower part of their inward region; but the transverse Processes of the lower Vertebers have their Sinus hollowed into the upper part of the inner region (as Learned Vesalius hath well observed) and the Sinus belonging to the bodys of the middle Vertebers, are articulated after a middle manner.

The use of this Articulation of the Ribs with the Spine (I humbly con∣ceive may be this) That the conjunction of them being made in a double Joynt, is to assist Respiration in the dilatation of the Thorax, * 1.34 for the recepti∣on of the expanded Lungs, by reason the double joynts are so obliquely seat∣ed, and contrived with such Artifice, that the Ribs by often contraction of the intercostal Muscles, are not only moved upward, but outward too; whereupon the Ribs being carried upward and outward, must necessarily en∣large the capacity of the Thorax, to make way for the Lungs, puffed up with the elastick Particles of Air; so that it is very evident, that the Ribs being drawn upward and outward, do give greater dimensions to the middle Apartiment, and when they are pulled downward and inward, they narrow the Cavity of the Thorax, so that we may see in any Skeleton, that the Ribs (especially the lower, which are most conducive to the dilatation of the Breast) are articulated with the Spine and Sternon, not according to right lines; whereupon the Ribs, when they are elevated and carried outward, do come near to Right Angles, and the Thorax is dilated in breadth, and enlar∣ged in length, as the Diaphragme is brought from an Arch to a Plane.

But the upper Ribs in their anterior parts are connected to the Sternon, * 1.35 by the interposition of Cartilages, among which, the Cartilages of the Second Rib, being protuberant, after the manner of an obtuse Triangle, are received into a Sinus of the Sternon by a laxe Articulation; and beside this Sinus, the Sternon on each side hath many Cavities formed, somewhat after the man∣ner of obtuse Angles, which are not aequidistant from each other, by reason the Sinus of the Sternon, engraven for the Cartilage of the third Rib, hath a greater distance from the Sinus of the Second Rib, then the Sinus (made for the Fourth) is removed from the Sinus, receiving the Cartilage of the Third Rib. And again, a greater space is found between the Second and Third, then between the Third and Fourth Sinus of the Sternon. * 1.36 And the Sinus of the Sternon made for the reception of the Cartilages of the First and Seventh Rib, do so nearly adjoyn, that they touch each other, and are not so deeply hollowed as the Sinus of the Sternon, relating to the Cartilages of the other Ribs.

The fine Compage of the Sternon is framed, being Convexe above, and Concave below, to give way to the Viscera, as well as the ranks of Ribs, † 1.37 (are made as so many Arches encircling the sides of the Thorax) conjoyned to the Spine of the Back, wrought into fine carved work, consisting of various Processes, to render the Thorax firm and strong, to oppose the assaults of out∣ward accidents.

And the Ribs are consigned to a farther use as they are elevated and drawn outward by the contraction of the intercostal Muscles, * 1.38 to enlarge the dimensions of the Thorax, to entertain the expanded Lungs in order to Inspirations; and afterward, when they are carried downward, and inward

by a kind of recoiling, (as over-extended in Inspiration) to depress the Lungs, and make good Expiration.

Having given a History of the Number, * 1.39 Magnitude, Length, Figure, Substance, and Articulation of the Ribs, it may seem now proper to speak somewhat of their Origens in a Foetus, and how from Month to Month, step by step they come to maturity.

In the Second Month the Ribs belonging to a Foetus, * 1.40 have their upper and lower region Cartilaginous, and the other parts Bony; and a Sinus may be plainly seen, through which the intercostal Nerves, Arteries and Veins make their progress.

And the Ribs and Clavicles are for the most part very early turned into Bones, that they may guard the Cavity of the Breast, as a safe repository, made for the entertainment of the Lungs and Heart, that they may freely exert their noble operations of Respiration and Pulsation, within the strong walls of the bony Arches, without the least compression.

And in the extremities of the Ribs in the second Month, no Joynts or Ar∣ticulations of the Ribs appear in the hinder region with the Chine, or in the Anterior extremity with the Sternon.

In the third Month the upper part of the Ribs is ossified, * 1.41 and the Inferior region hath some footstep of it, and sometimes to the Fourth or Fifth Month remaineth cartilaginous, which is very rare; From the Fourth to the Ninth Month, they are enlarged in dimensions, and have greater degrees of ossi∣fication, as the Ribs grow greater and more solid and firm, and their heads (by which they are articulated with the Chine) remain cartilaginous to the time of the Birth, without the least degree of Ossification.

The Ribs in a Foetus have a Concave Surface, * 1.42 whereby they are made so many Arches, and the Six upper Ribs tend upward in their extremities, and in their middle bend downward; and the Six lower Ribs, contrariwise, have a Convexe Surface in their middle region, and ascend, and in their extremi∣ties pass downward.

Notes

• † 1.1

  T. 72. F. 2. B. B.
• * 1.2

  The connexi∣on of the Cla∣vicles.
• * 1.3

  The Clavicles are articula∣ted with the Sinus of the Process of the Scapula and with the third Bone of the Sternon.
• † 1.4

  F. 2. b. The head of the Clavicle is triangular.
• * 1.5

  The head of the Clavicle is encompas∣sed with a Cartilage.
• * 1.6

  The Cartilage of the Clavi∣cle is endued with an un∣ctuous Mat∣ter.
• * 1.7

  The part of the Clavicle ad••oyning to the Sternon, is more spun∣gy then the other.
• * 1.8

  The Figure of the Clavicles.
• † 1.9

  T. 72. F. 2. C.
• * 1.10

  The Articula∣tion of the Clavicles with the Sca∣pula.
• * 1.11

  The Clavicles come soon to maturity.
• * 1.12

  Te seat of the Sternon.
• * 1.13

  The Bones of the Sternon in Children.
• * 1.14

  The first Bone of the Sternon:
• * 1.15

  The Second Bone of the Sternon.
• * 1.16

  The Third Bone of the Sternon. The Ensiform Cartilage.
• * 1.17

  The ill Fi∣gure of the Ensiform Car∣tilage.
• * 1.18

  The Ensiform Carti age is immoveable.
• * 1.19

  The Cavity of the ••nsi∣form Carti∣lage.
• * 1.20

  The Origen of th•• Sternon.
• * 1.21

  The various Bones encirc∣ling the Tho∣rax.
• * 1.22

  The number of the Ribs.
• † 1.23

  T. 72. F. 3. B B B.
• * 1.24

  The larger Ribs have the most long Cartilages.
• * 1.25

  The Cartila∣ges of the up∣per Ribs have Interstices the other Ribs have no spa∣ces.
• * 1.26

  The various Surfaces of the Ribs.
• * 1.27

  The outward region of the Ribs is endued with Protube∣rances,
• * 1.28

  The Asperity of the Ribs.
• * 1.29

  The division of the Ribs. Their articu∣lation with the Sternon, by Cartilages.
• * 1.30

  The Spurious Ribs.
• * 1.31

  The different substance of the Ribs.
• * 1.32

  The double Joynt of the nine upper Ribs. The three lower Ribs have but one Joynt.
• * 1.33

  The articula∣tion of the First Rib.
• * 1.34

  The use of the articulation of the Ribs.
• * 1.35

  The cornexi∣on of the Ribs to the Sternon by the media∣tion of Carti∣lages. The Cavities of the Sternon made after the manner of obtuse angles.
• * 1.36

  The Sinus of the Sixth and Seventh Ribs are smaller then the rest.
• † 1.37

  T. 72. F. 3. D. D.
• * 1.38

  The use of the Ribs.
• * 1.39

  The Origen of the Ribs in a Foetus.
• * 1.40

  In the Second Month.
• * 1.41

  The Origens of the Ribs in the Third Month.
• * 1.42

  The Surface of the Ribs in a Foetus.