Observations on the incurvations of the spine arising from softness of the bones, and on their treatment, particularly in regard to the female sex : also some remarks on abscesses of the hip-joint, and on incurvations of the spine from carious vertebrae : extracted from the lectures delivered before the Royal College of Surgeons in London in the summer of the year 1820 / by James Wilson.

James Wilson

Date:: 1821

Credit: Observations on the incurvations of the spine arising from softness of the bones, and on their treatment, particularly in regard to the female sex : also some remarks on abscesses of the hip-joint, and on incurvations of the spine from carious vertebrae : extracted from the lectures delivered before the Royal College of Surgeons in London in the summer of the year 1820 / by James Wilson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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scending from it to surround these extremities and move them in any direction; and also to muscles ascending from it on the trunk, which move the spine and thorax in all directions. It thus may be considered as the great centre of at- tachment for the voluntary muscles. By its hollow form it supports and contains some very important viscera. The aperture at the upper and fore part com- municates with the general cavity of the abdomen. The aperture at the under and back part, is par- tially closed by muscles and ligaments, which as- sist in supporting and protecting the contained parts ; but which leave sufficient space for the ter- mination of the larger excretories; viz. the bladder and rectum in both sexes, and in the female the uterus. In the erect position of the body the pelvis is situated obliquely; the opening towards the abdo- men looks upwards and forwards so much, that a line drawn through its axis would approach consi- derably nearer a horizontal than a perpendicular direction ; and would strike on the apex of the os coccygis. The excretories therefore terminate be- fore and below this line, as the cavity of the pelvis projects downwards and backwards from that of the abdomen. That part of the pelvis which is in front when the body is seated, becomes in the erect position the lower part; thus the viscera rest on,

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