On the anatomy and physiology of the oblique muscles of the eye, in man and vertebrate animals / by John Struthers.

Date:
[1849]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the anatomy and physiology of the oblique muscles of the eye, in man and vertebrate animals / by John Struthers. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    ON THE ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE OBLIQUE MUSCLES OF THE EYE, IN MAN AND VERTEBRATE ANIMALS. By JOHN STRUTHERS, F.R.C.S. LECTURER ON ANATOMY, EDINBURGH. [FROM THE MONTHLY JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE, OCTOBER 1849.] Nearly ninety years ago it was remarked by Porterfield, that «though the action of these two oblique muscles seems pretty evident, yet there is scarce any part of the human body about which anato- mists have differed more than in assigning them their proper offices”: and the observation is still appropriate, although the subject has since engaged the attention of various anatomists. The question does not admit of being decided by experiments on the lower animals, chiefly because mammals are provided with an additional muscle, or series of muscles, for retracting or suspending the eye, which are beyond the reach of trustworthy experiment, and to which motions of the eyeball might be owing after the straight muscles had been divided. Accordingly, the opinions of most au- thors on this matter are founded upon a consideration of the manner in which it appeared to them that these muscles, from their direction and attachments, would influence the ball of the eye, so as to change the direction of its axis; and very different conclusions have been arrived at by the most eminent of anatomists and physiologists. A necessary preliminary to such an inquiry, is a correct under- standing as to the manner in which the eyeball actually moves. It appears to me that all the movements of the eyeball are purely rota- tory in their nature, as if it moved within a close-fitting socket, or, as it were, on an universal pivot at its centre. The axis on which SUTHERLAND AND KNOX, 23, GEORGE STREET, EDINBURGH.