A Treatise on Anatomy, Physiology, and Hygiene Part 10

The muscles 12, 16, 18, bend the body forward or elevate the hips when the muscles of both sides act. They likewise depress the rib in expiration. When the muscles on only one side act, the body is twisted to the same side.]

Explain fig. 39. Give the function of some of the most prominent muscles, from this figure.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 40. A lateral view of the muscles of the trunk. 3, The upper part of the external oblique muscle. 4, Two of the external intercostal muscles. 5, Two of the internal intercostals. 6, The transversalis muscle. 7, Its posterior aponeurosis. 8, Its anterior aponeurosis. 11, The right rectus muscle. 13, The crest of the ilium, or haunch-bone.

_Practical Explanation._ The rectus muscle, 11, bends the thorax upon the abdomen when the lower extremity of the muscle is the fixed point; but when the upper extremity is the fixed point, the effect is to bring forward and raise the pelvis and lower extremities. They likewise depress the ribs in respiration. The transverse muscle, 6, 7, 8, lessens the cavity of the abdomen, and presses the intestines; stomach, and liver upward, against the diaphragm, in expiration.]

3d. The region of the back, in consequence of its extent, is common to the neck, the upper extremities, and the abdomen. The muscles of which it is composed are numerous, and are arranged in six layers.

What is represented by fig. 40? Give the function of some of the muscles represented by this figure.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 41 The first, second, and part of the third layer of muscles of the back. The first layer is shown on the right, and the second on the left side. 1, The trapezius muscle. 2, The spinous processes of the vertebr. 3, The acromion process and spine of the scapula. 4, The latissimus dorsi muscle. 5, The deltoid muscle. 7, The external oblique muscle. 8, The gluteus medius muscle. 9, The gluteus maximus muscle, 11, 12, The rhomboideus major and minor muscles. 15, The vertebral aponeurosis. 16, The serratus posticus inferior muscle. 22, The serratus magnus muscle. 23, The internal oblique muscle.

_Practical Explanation._ The muscles 1, 11, 12, draw the scapula back toward the spine. The muscles 11, 12, draw the scapula upward toward the head, and slightly backward. The muscle 4 draws the arm by the side, and backward, The muscle 5 elevates the arm. The muscles 8, 9, extend the thigh on the body. The muscle 1 draws the head back and elevates the chin. The muscle 16 depresses the ribs in expiration. The muscle 22 elevates the ribs in inspiration.]

159. The diaphragm, or midriff, is the muscular division between the thorax and the abdomen. It is penetrated by the oesophagus on its way to the stomach, by the aorta conveying blood toward the lower extremity, and by the ascending vena cava, or vein, on its way to the heart.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 42. A representation of the under, or abdominal side of the diaphragm. 1, 2, 3, 4, The portion which is attached to the margin of the ribs. 8, 10, The two fleshy pillars of the diaphragm, which are attached to the third and fourth lumbar vertebr. 9, The spinal column.

11, The opening for the pa.s.sage of the aorta. 12, The opening for the oesophagus. 13, The opening for the ascending vena cava, or vein.]

_Observation._ The diaphragm may be compared to an inverted basin, its bottom being turned upward into the thorax, while its edge corresponds with the outline of the edges of the lower ribs and sternum. Its concavity is directed toward the abdomen, and thus, this cavity is very much enlarged at the expense of that of the chest, which is diminished to an equal extent.

159. Describe the diaphragm. What vessels penetrate this muscular septum?

160. "The motions of the fingers do not merely result from the action of the large muscles which lie on the fore-arm, these being concerned more especially in the stronger actions of the hands. The finer and more delicate movements of the fingers are performed by small muscles situated in the palm and between the bones of the hand, and by which the fingers are expanded and moved in all directions with wonderful rapidity."

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 43. A front view of the superficial layer of muscles of the fore-arm. 5, The flexor carpi radialis muscle. 6, The palmaris longus muscle. 7, One of the fasciculi of the flexor sublimis digitorum muscle, (the rest of the muscle is seen beneath the tendons of the pintails longus.) 8, The flexor carpi ulnaris muscle. 9, The palmar fascia. 11, The abductor pollicis muscle. 12, One portion of the flexor orevis pollicis muscle. 13, The supinator longus muscle. 14, The extensor ossis metacarpi, and extensor primi internodii pollicis muscles, curving around the lower border of the fore-arm. 15, The anterior portion of the annular ligament, which binds the tendons in their places.

_Practical Explanation._ The muscles 5, 6, 8, bend the wrist on the bones of the fore-arm. The muscle 7 bends the second range of finger-bones on the first. The muscle 11 draws the thumb from the fingers. The muscle 12 flexes the thumb. The muscle 13 turns the palm of the hand upward. The muscles 8, 13, 14, move the hand laterally.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 44. A back view of the superficial layer of muscles of the fore-arm. 5, The extensor carpi radialis longior muscle. 6, The extensor carpi radialis brevior muscle. 7, The tendons of insertion of these two muscles. 8, The extensor communis digitorum muscle. 9, The extensor minimi dlgiti muscle. 10, The extensor carpi ulnaris muscle. 13, The extensor ossis metacarpi and extensor primi internodii muscles, lying together. 14, The extensor secundi internodii muscle; its tendon is seen crossing the two tendons of the extensor carpi radialis longior and brevior muscles. 15, The posterior annular ligament. The tendons of the common extensor muscle of the fingers are seen on the back of the hand, and their mode of distribution on the back of the fingers.

_Practical Explanation._ The muscles 5, 6, 10, extend the wrist on the fore-arm. The muscle 8 extends the fingers. The muscle 9 extends the little finger. The muscles 13 extend the metacarpal bone of the thumb, and its first phalanx. The muscle 14 extends the last bone of the thumb.

The muscles 10, 13, 14, move the hand laterally.]

160. Where are the muscles situated that effect the larger movements of the hand? That perform the delicate movements of the fingers? Give the use of some of the muscles represented by fig. 43. Those represented by fig. 44.

CHAPTER IX.

PHYSIOLOGY OF THE MUSCLES.

161. The muscles exercise great influence upon the system. It is by their contraction that we are enabled to pursue different employments.

By their action the farmer cultivates his fields, the mechanic wields his tools, the sportsman pursues his game, the orator gives utterance to his thoughts, the lady sweeps the keys of the piano, and the young are whirled in the mazy dance. As the muscles bear so intimate a relation to the pleasures and employments of man, a knowledge of the laws by which their action is governed, and the conditions upon which their health depends, should be possessed by all.

162. The peculiar characteristic of muscular fibres is _contractility_, or the power of shortening their substance on the application of stimuli, and again relaxing when the stimulus is withdrawn. This is ill.u.s.trated in the most common movements of life. Call into action the muscles that elevate the arm, by the influence of the _will_, or mind, (the common stimulus of the muscles,) and the hand and arm are raised; withdraw this influence by a simple effort of the will, and the muscles, before rigid and tense, become relaxed and yielding.

163. The contractile effect of the muscles, in producing the varied movements of the system, may be seen in the bending of the elbow.

The tendon of one extremity of the muscle is attached to the shoulder-bone, which acts as a fixed point; the tendon of the other extremity is attached to one of the bones of the fore-arm. When the swell of the muscle contracts, or shortens, its two extremities approach nearer each other, and by the approximation of the terminal extremities of the muscle, the joint at the elbow bends.

On this principle, all the joints of the system are moved. This is ill.u.s.trated by fig. 45.

161-172. _Give the physiology of the muscles._ 161. What are some of the influences exerted by the muscles on the system? 162. What is peculiar to muscular fibres? How is this ill.u.s.trated? 163. Explain how the movements of the system are effected by the contraction of the muscles.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 45. A representation of the manner in which all of the joints of the body are moved. 1, The bone of the arm above the elbow.

2, One of the bones below the elbow. 3, The muscle that bends the elbow.

This muscle is united, by a tendon, to the bone below the elbow, (4,) at the other extremity, to the bone above the elbow, (5,) 6, The muscle that extends the elbow. 7, Its attachment to the point of the elbow. 8, A weight in the hand to be raised. The central part of the muscle 3 contracts, and its two ends are brought nearer together. The bones below the elbow are brought to the lines shown by 9, 10, 11. The weight is raised in the direction of the curved line. When the muscle 6 contracts, the muscle 3 relaxes and the fore-arm is extended.]

_Experiments._ 1st. Clasp the arm midway between the shoulder and elbow, with the thumb and fingers of the opposite hand. When the arm is bent, the inside muscle will become hard and prominent, and its tendon at the elbow rigid, while the muscle on the opposite side will become flaccid. Extend the arm at the elbow, and the outside muscle will swell and become firm, while the inside muscle and its tendon at the elbow will be relaxed.

Explain fig. 45. Give experiment 1st.

2d. Clasp the fore-arm about three inches below the elbow, then open and shut the fingers rapidly, and the swelling and relaxation of the muscles on the opposite sides of the arms, alternating with each other, will be felt, corresponding with the movement of the fingers.

While the fingers are bending, the inside muscles swell, and the outside ones become flaccid; and, while the fingers are extending, the inside muscles relax, and the outside ones swell. The alternate swelling and relaxation of antagonist muscles may be felt in the different movements of the limbs.

164. Each fibre of the several muscles receives from the brain, through the nervous filament appropriated to it, a certain influence, called nervous fluid, or stimulus. It is this that induces contraction, while the suspension of this stimulus causes relaxation of the fibres. By this arrangement, the action of the muscular system, both as regards duration and power, is, to a limited extent, under the control of the mind. The more perfect the control, the better the education of the muscular system; as is seen in the graceful, effective, and well-educated movements of musicians, dancers, skaters, &c.

165. The length of time which a muscle may remain contracted, varies.

The duration of the contraction of the voluntary muscles, in some measure, is in an inverse ratio to its force. If a muscle has contracted with violence, as when great effort is made to raise a heavy weight, relaxation will follow sooner than when the contraction has been less powerful, as in raising light bodies.

166. The velocity of the muscular contraction depends on the will.

Many of the voluntary muscles in man contract with great rapidity, so that he is enabled to utter distinctly fifteen hundred letters in a minute; the p.r.o.nunciation of each letter requiring both relaxation and contraction of the same muscle, thus making three thousand actions in one minute. But the contraction of the muscles of some of the inferior animals surpa.s.ses in rapidity those of man. The race-horse, it is said, has run a mile in a minute; and many birds of prey will probably pa.s.s not less than a thousand miles daily.