The workes of that famous chirurgion Ambrose Parey translated out of Latin and compared with the French. by Tho: Johnson. Whereunto are added three tractates our of Adrianus Spigelius of the veines, arteries, & nerves, with large figures. Also a table of the bookes and chapters.

CHAP. VIII. Of the nerves that are distributed through the Crura, or thighs, legs, and feet.

THere are four pairs of nerves, which are propagated through the Crura. They arise from the three lower conjugations of the loins, and the four upper ones of the Os sacrum, or great bone, which after they are gone forth through the common holes of the rack bones, as wel as the nerves, which are distributed through the arm, make a certain complication like the meishing of a net, but far the greater then that other. Nor are these nerves of equal bigness, but the first [ta. 1. n. 46.] and the third [ta. 1. 56.] are small, wherefore also they reach but to the thigh; the second [t. 1. 50.] is somewhat thicker, and reaches to the leg, but the fourth [t. 1. 61.] alone is thicker then the three other put together; and is carried down as far as to the utmost ends of the toes.

The first nerve then [ta. 1. 46.] grows out of the higher part of the net-like complication,* 1.1 where the third nerve of the loins is joined with the fourth [ta. 147.] But it is presently car∣ried downward under the rim of the belly, to the thigh; lying upon the outside of the ten∣don of the first bending muscle of the thigh, to which when it is come, it sends out a pro∣pagation [ta. 1.48] which runs out through the skin on the forepart of the thigh, as far as to the joint of the knee, and there ends, and affords surcles [ta. 1. 49.] to the first bending muscle of the leg, as also to the second and third that extend the same.

The second nerve [t. 1. 50.] arises out of the same complication, and below the first,* 1.2 over against the connexion of the third and fourth rack-bones of the loins. This together with the crural vein, and artery, (which are the outer Iliacal branches) descends through the groin into the thigh, which when it has attained to, presently it issues forth a notable pro∣pagation [ta. 1. 51.] from its inside, lying upon the saphena or vein of the inner ankle, on the fore part, all the way it goes under the skin through the inner parts of the crus to the great toe. But as the vein saphena it self distributes some sprigs in the way to the skin next to it, no also this nerve sends out many propagations, of which that is the chief [t. 1. 53.] which it gives to the foreside of the knee.* 1.3 But the trunk it self [t. 1.54] when it has sent out this propagation, passes together with the trunk of the crural vein and artery into the thigh, & is scattered into the muscles seated on the inside of the thigh, especially [t. 1 55.] into the third bending one of the thigh, and the fourth extending one of the leg and so afterward it is terminated above the knee.

The third [t. 1. n 56.] grows out of the complication, under the second,* 1.4 over against the conjuction of the fourth and fifth rack-bones of the loins. This nerve being carried down upon the second bending muscle of the thigh, called Iliacus internus, passes through the hole of the share-bone, and affords propaga••ions [t. 1.57.] to the two muscles that turn the thigh about, which they call Obturatores, the stoppers, to wit, of that said hole, as also to the two muscles that erect the yard, which arise out of the bone of the hip. From thence like the two foregoing nerves, it descends, and distributes little nerves into the skin, that clothes the inner part of the thigh [t. 1. 58.] The remaining part [t 1. 57.] lies deep, the chief propagation whereof [t. 1. 60.] is spent partly on the second, partly on the third mus∣cle that bend the leg.

The fourth nerve [t. 1. n. 61.] is made up out of the fore-branches of the four uppet pairs of the great bone being united together.* 1.5 By reason whereof it passes the rest yea and all the nerves of the whole body, not only in thickness, but in hardness also, as being made of the last, that issue out of the spine, or ridge. This enters into the hinder part of the thigh through the cavity, that is in the hinder part of the hip-bone. But presently it sends forth a notable propagation [t. 1. 62.] from its back-side, which stayes a pretty while under the first extending muscle of the thigh, or Glutaeus magnus, the great buttock-muscle, and from thence is dispersed into the skin that covers the buttocks, and the back-side of the thigh to the middle of its length. Then it sends other propagations [ta. 1.63.] on both sides, three for the most part to the heads of the third, fourth and fifth muscles that extend the leg, and to the third bending one of the thigh. After this the trunk of the nerve descends among the muscles seated on the hinder part of the thigh, near to the bone, as far as half the length thereof, and distributes another branch [t. 1. 64.] to that fleshy lump of the fifth bending muscle of the leg, called Biceps,* 1.6 which grows to it on the

inside, after it has gone beyond the middle of the thigh. From hence also other surcles proceed, which are distributed into the skin on the backside of the thigh. But the trunk it self proceeding farther on, at length attains to the knee betwixt the two heads of the bone of the thigh, and imparts a small branch [t. 1. 65.] on each side into the first exten∣ding muscle of the foot, and the sole muscle, called plantaris, and by and by is divided, [t. 1. 66.] in the inner cavity of the knee,* 1.7 or in the ham, into two unequal branches which are distributed along through the leg and foot. For there is not any nerve which runs out through the leg, besides these two branches of the fourth, if you excep only that notable propagation, which bring derived from the second nerve, as we have said, descends in com∣pany of the vein saphena, through the inner part of the crus. The outer branch [t. 1. 67] is the smaller, and goes toward that part where the upper appendix of the fibula, or lesser bone of the leg is joined with the tibia, or greater bone thereof, scattering a propagation [t. 1.68.] in the way, which goes to the outer ancle under the skin, distributing in the mean time, many sprigs to the skin. But the branch it self [ta. 1. 69.] passes between the muscles seated on the foreside of the leg, and going through the long ligament of the tibia and fibula, or two bones of the leg, passes together with the tendons of the muscles that extend the toes, under the transverse ligament, and disperses little branches to the sides of the upper part of the toes. The inner branch [t. 1. 72.] is carried down through the backside of the crus, lurking betwixt the muscle of the sole of the foot, and the first of them that move the foot obliquely, as also the long bending muscles of the toes; and being joined afterward with the branch of the outer, which passes through the ligament, it goes to the sole of the foot, and distributes propagations into both the sides of the lower part of the toes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The first nerve
• * 1.2

  The second.
• * 1.3

  The progress of the trunk.
• * 1.4

  The third.
• * 1.5

  The fourth.
• * 1.6

  The progress of the trunk.
• * 1.7

  Its division.