Volume 1
A system of the anatomy of the human body. Illustrated by upwards of two hundred and fifty tables, taken partly from the most celebrated authors, and partly from nature / By Andrew Fyfe.
- Andrew Fyfe
- Date:
- 1820
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: A system of the anatomy of the human body. Illustrated by upwards of two hundred and fifty tables, taken partly from the most celebrated authors, and partly from nature / By Andrew Fyfe. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![J Part I.] OF THE BONES IN GENERAL. union with Phosphoric Acid. In either of these Process¬ es, the Bone retains its shape; but in the former it is brittle, and of a pure white colour, while in the latter it is flexible, consisting principally of Cartilaginous Matter. By boiling in Water for a sufficient length of time, and especially if under an increased pressure, as in Pa¬ pin’s Digester, the Fat and Gelatin of Bones are dis¬ solved and separated, and the Bone retaining its Earthy Matter, preserves also its white colour. Use of the Bones. The general Use of the Bones is,—to give firmness and support to the soft parts,—to defend them from external injury,—to determine their shape, size, and situation, and regulate their different motions and atti¬ tudes. They furnish an essential part of the Organs of Loco¬ motion, by giving attachment to the Muscles and their Tendons, and serving as Levers for these to act on. They form in some parts Columns, which can be moved in different directions. The extremities of the Bones give form to the Joints, and by their magnitude they render these more secure, and increase the force of the Muscles which belong to them. The Bellies of the Muscles being generally placed upon the middle of the Bones, and the Tendons fixed to their extremities, the symmetry of the Limbs is also thereby preserved. Periosteum. The Periosteum derives its name from its furnishing a general Covering to the Bones. In certain parts, however, it is perforated by Muscles, Ligaments, or Cartilages, which are fixed immediately to the surface of the Bones; and at the Joints it sepa¬ rates from the Bones, to give a Covering to the Capsu¬ lar Ligaments. It is formed of many Fibres, which, in certain parts, can be divided into Layers. The outer Surface of this Membrane is connected to the surrounding parts by Cellular Substance. The inner Surface is more uniform than the outer, and its Fibres run, most frequently, in the same direc¬ tion with those of the subjacent Bone. The inner part of the Periosteum is intimately con¬ nected to the surface of the Bones by short Fibres; and this connexion is much stronger in Children than in Adults. Some of these Fibres may be considered as Ligamentous, but most of them are found by Injection to consist of Blood-vessels. The Periosteum, as well as other Membranes, must be supplied with Nerves; but these are too minute to be readily traced. The Sensibility of the Periosteum, like that cf other Membranes, is by no means acute. In the inflamed state, its sensibility is very considerable. The principal Uses of this Membrane are,—to trans¬ mit the Vessels which are spread out upon its surface into the substance of the Bones;—to give attachment to Muscles;—to prevent the effects of Friction between them and the Bones;—to assist in binding the latter together;—to assist in setting limits to the increase, and to check the overgrowth of Bones ;—and, in young persons, to strengthen the junction of the Bones with their Epiphyses, Cartilages, and Ligaments. Membrana Medullaris. This, improperly called Periosteum Internum, is an extremely fine Membrane, which lines the inside of the Bones in general, sends Processes into the solid sides of these, and is divided into numberless small parts, which also line the different Cancelli. It forms so many irre¬ gular Bags, communicating with each other, and af¬ fording a large surface for the dispersion of the secre¬ tory Vessels of the Marrow. Marrow. The Marrow may be considered as an Appendage to the general Corpus Adiposum, and is somewhat of the nature of Butter. It is found to be a species of fixed oil possessing peculiar properties, and is deposited by the Arteries in the Cavities of the Bones, at the same time that the rest of the Body is supplied with Fat. The Blood-vessels of the Marrow, surrounded by the Periosteum, enter the Bones by oblique Canals, which have already been taken notice of in the description of the Bones in general. When the Arteries have entered the Cavities of the Bones, they divide into Branches, which are spread out upon the Cancelli, Membrana Medullaris, and Mar¬ row ; from these many minute Branches are reflected outwards to the Tables of the Bones, which communi¬ cate with those sent from the inner surface of the Pe¬ riosteum. The Veins which return the Blood from the Marrow and substance of the Bones, are collected into small Trunks, which pass out where the Arteries penetrated the Bones, and discharge their contents into the neigh¬ bouring Veins. The greater degree of Vascularity of the solids in Children than in Adults is no where more conspicuous than here; for Injections which pass readily in these Vessels in Children, cannot be made to penetrate so far in those of persons more advanced in life. In conse¬ quence of which, the Marrow is found to be thin and bloody in Children, oily and thick in Adults, and watery in old people. The Marrow, like the Fat, when viewed through a Microscope, resembles a cluster of pearls ;—or it is contained](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30455443_0001_0019.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
