A Treatise on Anatomy, Physiology, and Hygiene Part 11

Give experiment 2d. 164. With what is each muscular fibre supplied?

What effect has this stimulus on the muscles? 165. how long does a voluntary muscle remain contracted? 166. On what is the velocity of muscular contraction dependent? How many letters may be p.r.o.nounced in a minute?

167. The functions of the involuntary muscles are necessary the digestion of food, the absorption and circulation of the nutritive fluids. They could not be trusted with safety to the control of the will, lest the pa.s.sions or the indiscretions of the person should continually avert those operations so necessary to health, and even to life. The Divine Builder of this complicated machine has wisely ordered that the muscles upon which these motions depend, shall act under the impression of their proper stimulants, without the control of the individual.

168. Again, there are certain operations which could not be safely intrusted to the absolute government of the voluntary muscles, or entirely removed from their control. Thus life can be supported only a few minutes without breathing; but it would be impossible to perform the daily vocations of life if we were compelled to breathe at all times, or at perfectly regular intervals.

169. It has been observed that, among men of the same size, a wide difference exists in their strength and activity--qualities which depend upon the size and number of the nerves, the size and activity of the brain, and the education, or training of the muscles. Men having large nerves leading to the muscles, with the brain active, and muscles well trained will perform feats of strength and agility, that other men, of the same size, cannot effect. Rope-dancers, harlequins, and other performers of feats, are persons thus const.i.tuted.

How many contractions and relaxations of the same muscle? What is said of the rapidity of muscular contractions in other animals? 167. When are the involuntary muscles called into action? Why would it not have been safe to trust these important operations to the exclusive control of the will? 168. Give an instance where some of the muscles act under the government of the will, conjoined with those that are involuntary.

169. On what does the difference in muscular activity and strength depend?

170. Persons with small muscles, and largely developed nervous systems, will sometimes exhibit very great muscular power for a time; but it will not be of long continuance, unless the brain is functionally diseased, as in hysteria, delirium of fever, insanity, &c. Men of large muscles and small nerves can never perform feats of great strength; but they have the power of endurance, and are better capacitated for continued labor. Thus we cannot judge of the ability of persons to make exertions and continue them, by their stature alone. Strength, and the power of endurance, are the result of a combination of well-developed muscles, large nerves, and a full-sized, healthy, and active brain.

_Observation._ The muscles of fishes are large, and the nerves distributed to them, comparatively small. The muscles of birds are small, but their fibres are very compact. The nerves appropriated to the muscles that are called into action in flying, are large as well as numerous.

171. The contractile portion of a muscle is, in general, at a distance from the part to be moved. Thus the princ.i.p.al muscles that move the fingers are situated upon the forearm; and when the limb is nearly or quite extended, the angle formed by the part to be moved and the contractile muscles is small. Again, the attachment of the muscles to the part to be moved is near the joint that forms the fulcrum, (fig.

45.) By these arrangements there is a loss of power; but we are compensated for this disadvantage by increased celerity of movement, beauty of form, and adaptation of the limbs to the varied pursuits of man.

170. What is said of those persons who have small muscles and largely developed nervous systems? Of those who have large muscles and small nerves? Upon what do strength and the power of endurance depend? 171.

Why is there a loss of power in the action of the muscles?

_Ill.u.s.tration._ The muscle that bends the elbow acts at disadvantage, and this is greatest when the arm is nearly or quite extended, as the angle of action is then least. This disadvantage is further increased by the attachment of the motive muscles near the joint.

172. The number of muscles which are called into action in the movements of the different joints, varies. The hinge-joints, as the elbow, have two sets of muscles--one to bend the joint, the other to extend it. The ball and socket joints, as the shoulder, are not limited to mere flexion and extension. No joint in the system has the range of movement that is possessed by that of the shoulder. By the action of the muscles attached to the arm, it is not only carried upward and forward, but forward and backward. Hence the arm may be moved at any angle, by a combined action of its muscles.

_Observation._ "Could we behold properly the muscular fibres in operation, nothing, as a mere mechanical exhibition, can be conceived more superb than the intricate and combined actions that must take place during our most common movements. Look at a person running or leaping, or watch the motions of the eye. How rapid, how delicate, how complicated, and yet how accurate, are the motions required! Think of the endurance of such a muscle as the heart, that can contract, with a force equal to sixty pounds, seventy-five times every minute, for eighty years together, without being weary."

_Note._ It would be a profitable exercise for pupils to press their fingers upon prominent muscles, and, at the same time, vigorously contract them, not only to learn their situations, but their use; as the one that bends the arm, 14, fig. 46.

How is this ill.u.s.trated? 172. Do all joints require the same number of muscles, when called into action? How many are called into action in the movement of the elbow? What is their office? What is said of the movement of the ball and socket joint?

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 46. An anterior view of the muscles of the body. 1.

The frontal swell of the occipito-frontalis. 2, The orbicularis palpebrarum. 3, The levator labli superioris. 4, The zygomaticus major.

5, The zygomaticus minor. 6, The ma.s.seter. 7, The orbicularis oris. 8, The depressor labli inferioris. 9. The platysma myodes. 10, The deltoid.

11, The pectoralis major. 12, The latissimus dorsi. 14, The biceps flexor cubiti. 15, The triceps extensor cubiti. 16, The supinator radii longus.

18, The flexor carpi radialis longior. 19, The flexor communis digitorum.

20, The annular ligament. 21, The palmar fascia. 22, The obliquus externus abdominis. 26, The psoas magnus. 27, The adductor longus. 28, The sartorius. 29, The rectus femoris. 30, The vastus externus. 31, The vastus internus. 32, The tendon patell. 33, The gastrocnemius. 34, The tibialis anticus. 36, The tendons of the extensor digitorum communis.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 47. A posterior view of the muscles of the body. 3, The complexus. 4, The splenius. 5, The ma.s.seter. 6, The sterno-cleido mastoideus. 7, The trapezius. 8, The deltoid. 10, The triceps extensor.

13, The tendinous portion of the triceps. 14, The anterior edge of the triceps. 15, The supinator radii longus. 17, The extensor communis digitorum. 18, The extensor ossis metacarpi pollicis. 19, The tendons of the extensor communis digitorum. 20, The olecranon process of the ulna and insertion of the triceps. 21, The extensor carpi ulnaris. 22, The extensor communis digitorum. 24, The latissimus dorsi. 25, Its tendinous origin. 26, The obliquus externus. 27, The gluteus medius. 28, The gluteus magnus. 29, The biceps flexor cruris. 30, The semi-tendinosus.

31, 32, The gastrocnemius. 33, The tendo Achillis.

_Practical Explanation._ The muscle 1, fig. 46, by its contraction, raises the eyebrows. The muscle 2, fig. 46, closes the eyelids. The muscle 3, fig. 46, elevates the upper lip. The muscles 4, 5, fig. 46, elevate the angles of the mouth. The muscles 6, fig. 46, and 5, fig. 47, bring the teeth together. The muscle 7, fig. 46, closes the mouth. The muscle 8, fig. 46, depresses the lower lip. The muscles 9, fig. 46, and 6, fig. 47, bend the neck forward. The muscles 3, 4, fig. 47, elevate the head and chin. The muscle 22, fig. 46, bends the body forward, and draws the ribs downward. The muscle 11, fig. 46, brings the shoulder forward.

The muscle 7, fig. 47, draws the shoulder back. The muscles 10, fig. 46, and 8, fig. 47, elevate the arm. The muscles 11, fig. 46, and 24, fig.

47, bring the arm to the side. The muscle 14, fig. 46, bends the arm at the elbow. The muscle 10, fig. 47, extends the arm at the elbow. The muscles 16, 18, fig. 46, bend the wrist and fingers. The muscle 19 bends the fingers. The muscles 18, 21, 23, fig. 47, extend the wrist. The muscle 23, fig. 47, extends the fingers. The muscles 26, 27, 28, fig. 46, bend the lower limbs on the body, at the hip. The muscle 28, fig. 46, draws one leg over the other, (the position of a tailor when sewing.) The muscles 27, 28, fig. 47, extend the lower limbs on the body, at the hip.

The muscles 29, 30, 31, fig. 46, extend the leg at the knee. The muscles 29, 30, fig. 47, bend the leg at the knee. The muscles 34, 36, fig. 46, bend the foot at the ankle, and extend the toes. The muscles 31, 32, 33, fig. 47, extend the foot at the ankle.]

_Note._ Let the anatomy and physiology of the muscular system be reviewed, in form of topics, from figs 46, 47, or from the anatomical outline plates No. 3 and 4.

CHAPTER X.

HYGIENE OF THE MUSCLES

173. _The muscles should be used, in order that the size and strength of these organs may be adequate to the demand made upon them._ It is a law of the system that the action and power of an organ are commensurate, to a certain extent, with the demand made upon it; and it is a law of the muscular system that, whenever a muscle is called into frequent use, its fibres increase in thickness within certain limits, and become capable of acting with greater force; while, on the contrary, the muscle that is little used decreases in size and power.

_Ill.u.s.trations._ 1st. The blacksmith uses and rests the muscles of his arm when striking upon the anvil. They not only increase in size, but become very firm and hard.

2d. The student uses the muscles of the arm but little, in holding his books and pen; they not only become small, but soft.

3d. Let the student leave his books, and wield an iron sledge, and the muscles of his arm will increase in size and firmness. On the other hand, let the blacksmith a.s.sume the student's vocation, and the muscles of his arm will become soft and less firm.

174. _When the muscles are called into action, the flow of blood in the arteries and veins is increased._ The increased flow of blood in the arteries and veins, causes a more rapid deposition of the particles of matter of which the muscles are composed. If the exercise is adequate to the power of the system, the deposit of new material will exceed in quant.i.ty the particles of matter removed, and both the size and energy of the muscles are increased. But there is a limit to the muscles becoming strong by labor. Sooner or later, man will attain his growth or power; yet by judicious exercise, care, and discreet management, the greatest power of the muscles may be preserved until advanced age.

173-211. _Give the hygiene of the muscles._ 173. What is necessary that muscles may attain size and strength? Give a law of the muscular system. Show this by practical ill.u.s.trations. 174. Why do muscles increase in size when exercised?

175. _The muscles are lessened in size and diminished in power when the exercise is continued so as to produce a feeling of exhaustion._ The loss of material, in this instance, will exceed the deposition of the atoms of matter. This is seen in the attenuated frames of over-tasked domestic animals, as the horse. The same truth is ill.u.s.trated by the laborious agriculturist, who, in consequence of too severe toil while gathering the products of the field, frequently diminishes his weight several pounds in a few weeks. Exercise, either for pleasure or profit, may fatigue, yet it should never be protracted to languor or exhaustion, if the individual desires "a green old age."

176. _The same amount of exercise will not conduce to the health of all individuals._ If riding or walking one mile causes slight fatigue, this may be beneficial; while, by travelling two miles, the exhaustion may be highly injurious. Exercise and labor should be adapted to the strength of particular individuals. How little soever the strength, that must be the measure of exertion. Any other rule would be fatal to the hopes of invigorating the system, either by exercise or labor.

Is there a limit to the muscles becoming powerful by action? How may the strength of muscles be kept until advanced age? 175. What is the effect when exercise is continued until there is a feeling of exhaustion? Give a practical ill.u.s.tration. What rule is mentioned in regard to exercise? 176. Can all persons take the same amount of exercise? What rule is given as to the amount of exercise?