Volume 180501

Anatomia Britannica; a system of anatomy and physiology, selected from the works of Haller, Albinus, Monro, etc.

Date:
1805
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Anatomia Britannica; a system of anatomy and physiology, selected from the works of Haller, Albinus, Monro, etc. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    43/370 (page 21)
    = pientifully moistened, scarce ever change into bone ; while those of the ribs and larynx are often ossified._The middle angular part of the cartilages of the ribs, which is constantly in an alter. nate state of flexion and extension, by being moved in respiration, is always the last of becoming bony.—In the larynx, the epiglot- tis, which is oftener bended and more moistened than the other four cartilages, seldom is ossified, while the others as seldom es- cape it in adults. ‘i Cartilages are sometimes found on the ends of bones which are joined to no other ; but are never wanting on the ends and in the cavities of such bones as are designed for motion. Cartilages also are interposed between such other cartilages as cover the heads and cavities of articulated bones ; nay, they are also placed be- tween immovyeable bones. my ii ‘The uses of cartilages, so far as they regard bones, are, to allow, by their smoothness, such bones as are designed for motion, to slide easily without detrition, while, by their flexibility, they ac- commodate themselves to the several figures necessary. in different motions, and, by their elasticity, they recover their natural posi- tion and shape as soon as the pressure is removed.—This springy force may also assist the motion of the joint to be more expediti- ous, and may render shocks in running, jumping, &c. less.---To these cartilages we chiefly owe the security of the moveable arti- culations : for, without them, the bony fibres would sprout out, and intimately coalesce with the adjoining bone; whence an an- Chylosis must necessarily follow ; which never fails to happen when the cartilages are eroded by acrid matter, or ossified from want of motion or defect of synovia] fluid. The moveable car- tilages interposed in joints serve to maké the motions both freer and more safe than they would otherwise be. Cartilages some- times serve as ligaments, either to fasten together bones that are immoveably joined, such are the cartilages between the os sa- erum and ossa ilium, the ogsa pubis, &c. or to connect bones that enjoy manifest motion, as those do which are placed be- tween the bodies of the true vertebra, &c.---Cartilages very often ilo the office of bones to greater advantage than these last could; as in the cartilages of the ribs, those which supply brims to cavi- tits, &c. }