CHAP. XIV. The distribution of the Nerves, or Sinews of the sixth Conjugation.
BEcause the distribution of the Arteries cannot be well shewed, unless we violate those Nerves which are carryed over the Chest, therefore before we shew the distribution of the Arteries, we will, as briefly as we can, prosecute the distribution of these nerves.
Now the sixth conjugation brings forth three pair of Nerves; for passing out of the Skul, as it comes down to the Chest, it by the way sends forth some branches to certain muscles of the neck, and to the three ascendent muscles of the Larinx on each side of the Sternon, and upon the clavi∣cles. Then the remainder descending into the Chest, is divided on each side into these three pair. The first pair makes the Ramus costalis. The second, the Ramus recurrens. The third pair, the Ra∣mus stomachicus. The Ramus costalis, or costal branch, is so called, because descending by the roots of the ribs, even to the holy bone, and joyning themselves to these which proceed from each of the Vertebra's of the Spine, they are carryed to all the natural parts.
The Recurrens, or recurrent, is also so called, because as it were starting up from the Chest, it runs upward again: but these two Recurrent Nerves do not run back from the same place; but the right from below the Artery, called by some the Axillary, by others Subclavian, and the left from be∣neath the great Artery, descending to the natural parts. But each of them on each-side ascending along by the Weazon, even to the Larinx, and then they insinuate themselves by the wings of Car∣tilago scutiformis, and Thyroides into the proper muscles, which open and shut the Larinx.
By how much the Nerves are nearer the original, to wit, the Brain, or Spinal-marrow, they are by so much the softer. On the contrary, by how much they are further absent from their origi∣nal, they are so much the harder and stronger, which is the reason that Nature would have these Recurrent Nerves to run back again upwards, that so they might be the stronger to perform the motions of the muscles of the Larinx. But the Stomachicus or Stomach-branch is so called, be∣cause it descends to the Stomach or Ventricle. For this branch descending on both sides by the sides of the gullet, sends many branches from it into the inner substance of the Lungs, into the coat thereof, into the Pericardium and Heart; and then coming into the upper orifice of the Stomach, it is spent in many branches, which folded after divers manners and ways, chiefly makes that Mouth or Stomach, which is the seat of the Animal appetite (as they term it) and hunger, and the judger of things convenient or hurtful for the Stomach. But from thence they are diversly disse∣minated over all the Body of the Ventricle.
Moreover the same branch sends forth some small branches to the Liver and Bladder of the Gall, giving each part by the way, so much sense as should be sufficiently necessary for it. Here