Book 5: Animal Parts of the Head

Book 5: Of The Animal Parts Contained In The Head.

I. A General Description Of The Head.
II. Of the musculous skin of the head, (commonly called hairy scalp), and of the pericranium
III. Of the sutures
IV. Of the cranium, or skull
V. Of the meninges, that is, the two membranes called dura mater and pia mater
VI. Of the brain
VII. Of the Ventricles and Mamillary Processes of the brain.
VIII. Of The 7 Conjugations Of The Nerves Of The brain, So Called, Because They Always Show The Nerves Conjugated And Doubled, That, Is On Each Side One
IX. Of The Rete Mirabile, Or Wonderful Net, And Of The Wedge-Bone
X. Of The Holes Of The Inner Basis Of The Skull
XI. Of The Perforations Of The External Basis Of The brain.
XII. Of The Spinal Marrow, Or Pith Of The back.

I. A General description of the head.

Having hitherto declared two general parts of man’s body, that is, the natural and vital, it is now fit to betake ourselves to the last, that is, the animal, beginning with the head.

Wherefore we will first define the head, then divide it into its parts; thirdly, describe each of these parts; fourthly, demonstrate them after the order they offer themselves to our sight in dissection.

The head, therefore, is the seat of the senses, the palace and habitation of reason and wisdom, from whence as from a fountain, infinite actions and commodities arise. It is seated above the rest of the body, that the animal spirit from thence, as from a tower, may govern and moderate the whole body, and perform all actions according to the prescripts of nature. By the head we understand all that which is contained from the crown of the head to the first vertebrae of the neck.

The best figure of the head is round, lightly flatted on each side, extuberating something to the fore and hind part thereof. For from hence is taken an argument of the goodness of the senses; on the contrary, those which are exactly round, or acuminate, and sharp towards the top, are not thought good. The head is divided into the face, forehead, temples, the forepart, the crown and hind part.

By the face we understand, whatsoever is contained between the eyebrows and the lower part of the chin. By the forehead, all the space from the eyebrows even to the coronal suture. By the temples, whatsoever is hollowed from the lesser corner of the eye, even to the ears. By the forepart of the head, whatsoever runs in the length from the top of the forehead, or the coronal suture, even to the suture lambdoids, and on each side to the ossa petrosa, the stony bones, or scaly sutures. By the crown we signify a certain point exquisitely in the midst of the sagittal suture, which is sufficiently known. By the occiput or hindpart of the head, that which is terminated by the suture lambdoids, and the first vertebrae of the neck.

Of all these parts there be some simple, some compound, besides some are containing, some contained. Of the containing some are common to all the parts of the head, as the skin, the fleshy pannicle and pericranium, others are proper to certain parts, as the fleshy pannicle to the neck, face, forehead and skin covering the cranium, the common coat of the muscles to the fat and face; the skull and both the meninges to the brain.

The parts contained are the substance of the brain, the four ventricles, and the bodies contained in them, the nerves, the mammillary processes; the plexus choroides or Rete admirabile, the Glandula basilaris, and others of which we will speak hereafter.

We must now speak of the containing parts, beginning with the skin; for the order of teaching requires that we take our exordium from the more simple, but first we will say some thing of the hairs.

The hair is nothing else than an excrement generated and formed of the more gross and terrain portion of the superfluities of the third concoction, which could not be wasted by insensible transpiration. And the benefit of it is, that consuming the gross and fuliginous or sooty excrements of the brain, it becomes a cover and ornament for the head.

This hair of the head and eyebrows have their origin from the first confirmation of the infant in the womb, the rest of the hairs of the body arise and grow forth as the body grows and becomes more dry, of which sort are the hairs which cover the chin, armholes, groins and other parts of our bodies.

II. Of the musculous skin of the head, (commonly called hairy scalp), and of the pericranium

The skin, which covers the skull and is covered with the hair, is far more fleshy, thick, hard and dry than any other part of the body, especially which wants hair. The skin has almost the like condition of quality as those parts have, which it does simply cover, but is, as it were, lost in them or grown into one with them, as in the lips and forehead with the fleshy pannicle, wherefore it is there called musculous; in other places it adheres to the gristles, as on the sides of the nostrils and corners of the eyes, whereupon it is there called gristly.

It has connection with the pericranium because joined to it, it receives nerves from the first and second vertebra of the neck, and from the third conjugation of the brain, which are disseminated through all its substance, whereby it comes to pass, that the wounds, contusions, and impostumes that happen in or upon the skin, are not to be neglected.

The pericranium (but I suppose it should be the periosteum) is a most thin membrane, which next and immediately covers all the bones of the body, and this on the head is called by a peculiar name the pericranium by reason of the excellency of the cranium or skull, in other bones it is termed the periosteum. And as the pericranium takes its origin from the crassa meninx propagating itself by certain strings or threads sent forth by the sutures and holes of the skull, so all other membranes of the body have their origin either from this pericranium, or the crassa meninx, sending forth their productions, as well by the holes or passages of the head, as by these of the spinal marrow or backbone itself, even to the Holy bone.

Of which this is an argument, for in what part soever of the body a membrane is hurt, presently the hurt or sense thereof comes to the crassa meninx. For so those who have but their little toe hurt when they sneeze, or cough, perceive an increase of their pain, by the passage thereof to the brain.

The use of this pericranium is to cover the skull, and to give notice of things hurtful, by the power of the quick sense which it is endued withall, and the periosteum does the like in other bones. Besides, it sustains and fastens by the sutures of the crassa meninx to the skull, least it should fall by reason of its weight upon the pia mater, and so hurt it, and hinder the pulsation of the brain and arteries that are plenteously spread through both the meninges. wherefore the pericranium has most straight connection with the Crassa meninx, because it takes the origin from thence.

We must think the same of the other membranes of the body, which thing is very notable in the solution of the continuity of the membranes.

III. Of the sutures

The sutures sew, or fasten together, the bones of the skull. These be five in number: three are true and legitimate, two false and spurious. The coronal, the first of the true sutures, is seated in the forepart of the head, descending downwards overthwart the forepart of the head to the midst of the temples. It is so called, because Corollae, that is, wreaths, crowns or garlands are set upon that place.
The second is called the Sagittalis, or right suture, as that which running through the crown divides the head into two equal parts, as with a straight line, running the length of it from the Coronal to the Lambdoids or hind suture.
But this third suture Lambdoids, is so called because it represents this Capital greek letter Lambda, Λ. You must understand this description of the sutures, not as always but as for the greater part to be thus. For there be some skulls that want the foremost suture, othersome the hind, & sometimes such as have none of the true sutures, but only the false & spurious. But also you shall sometimes find the Sagittal to run to the nose.
And oft times there be three or four sutures in the back part of the head, so that indeed the number of the sutures is not certain. Which also we find observed by Cornelius Celsus, where he writes, that Hippocrates was deceived by the sutures by chance, for that he conjectured that the bones of the back part of the head, were broken, because his probe thrust to the roughness of the second suture Lambdoids, stayed as at a Cleft made in the bone by a stroke.
The other two are called the false, stony and scaly sutures, by reason they are made by a scaly conjunction of the bones, but not by a toothed saw or comb-like connection. But if any ask, why the head consists not of one bone, that so it might be the stronger: I answer it is, that so it might be the safer both from internal and external injuries. For the skull being as it were the tunnel of the chimney of this human fabric, to which all the smoky vapors of the whole body ascend, if it had been composed of one bone, these vapors should have had no passage fourth.
Wherefore the grosser vapors pass away by the sutures, but the more subtle by the pores of the skull; some have their sutures very open; but others on the contrary very close.
Therefore nature has otherwise compendiously provided for such as want sutures; For it has made one or two holes, some two fingers breadth from the Lambdoids, through which the Vena pupis enters into the skull, and they are of that largeness that you may put a points tag into them, that so the vapors may have free passage forth, otherwise there would be danger of death; thus nature has been careful to provide for man against internal injuries; and in like manner against external, for it has made the head to consist of diverse bones, that when one bone is broken the other may be safe, the violence of the stroke being stayed in the division of the bones.
Whereby you may know, that if the skull chance to be broken in the opposite side to that which received the blow, that it happens either by reason of the defect of sutures, or else because they are imperfect, and too firmly closed; otherwise it is impossible such fractures should happen by reason of the separation of the bones, which breaks the violence of the blow that it can go no further.
And certainly as it is rare to find a skull without sutures, so it is rare to find such kind of fractures. Therefore surgeons must diligently observe the Sutures and site of them, least they bee deceived and take them for fractures, or unawares apply a trepan to them, whence by breaking the veins, arteries and nervous fibers by which the internal parts communicate with the external, there may ensue increase of pain, a violent defluxion of blood upon the Crassa meninx, and the falling thereof upon the brain, (the fibers being broken by which it stuck to the Pericranium) and so consequently a deadly interception of the pulsation of the brain.

IV. Of the cranium, or skull

The cranium, or skull covering the brain like a helmet, is composed and consists of seven bones, of which some are more dense, thick and hard than other some. The first is the Os occipitis, or Nowle bone seated in the back part of the head, more hard and thick than the rest, because we want hands and eyes behind, whereby we may keep or save our selves from falling.

This bone is circumscribed, or bounded by the suture Lambdoides, and the Os basilare. The eminencies and as it were heads of this bone are received into the first vertebra; for upon this the head is turned forwards and backwards, by the force of fourteen muscles and strong ligaments, which firmly tie these heads of the Nowle bone in the cavities of this first vertebra.

The second bone of the skull is in the forepart, and is called the Os coronale or Os frontis the forehead bone, it has the second place in strength and thickness. It is bounded by the Coronal suture, and the ends of the wedgebone: in this forehead bone there is often found a great cavity under the upper part of the eye-brows, filled with a glutinous, gross, viscid and white matter or substance, which is thought to help to elaborate the air for the sense of smelling.

Surgeons must take special notice of this cavity, because when the head chances to be broken in that place, it may happen, that the fracture exceeds not the first table; wherefore they being ignorant of this cavity, and moved with a false persuasion that they see the brain, they may think the bone wholly broken, and to press the Meninges, whereupon they will dilate the wound, apply a trepan and other instruments to lift up the second table of the bone, without any need at all, and with the manifest danger of the life of the patient.

The third and fourth bones of the skull are the Ossa parietalia, or Bregmatis, having the third place of density and thickness; although this density and thickness be different in diverse places of them. For on the upper part of the head, or crown, (where that substance turns not to a bone in children until they have all their teeth, so that it feels soft in touching, and through it you may feel the beating of the brain) these bones are very tender, so that oft times, they are no thicker than ones nail, that so the moist and vaporous excrements of the brain, shut up where the greater portion of the brain resides, may have a freer passage by the brains Diastole and Systole. These two square bones are bounded above with the sagittal suture, below with the scaly, on the forepart with the coronall, and on the hind part with the Lambdoids.

The fifth and sixth bone of the skull are the two Ossa petrosa stony or scaly bones which are next to the former in strength. They are bounded with the false or bastard Suture, and with part of the Lambdoids, and wedgebone.

The seventh is the Os sphenoides, basilare or Cuneiforme that is, the wedgebone. It is called Basilare, because it is as it were the Basis of the head. To this the rest of the bones of the head are fitly fastened in their places. This bone is bounded on each side with the bones of the forehead, the stony bones, and bones of the Nowle and palate. The figure represents a bat, and its processes her wings.

There is besides these another bone at the basis of the forehead bone, into which the mamillary processes end, the Greeks call it〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Latins Cribrosum and Spongiosum, the Spongy bone, because it has many holes in it not perforated in a direct passage, as in a sieve, but winding and anfractuous, that the air should not by the force of attraction presently leap or ascend into the brain, and affect it with its qualities, before it be elaborated by its lingering in the way. There are besides also six other little bones lying hid in the stony bones, at the hole, or auditory passage; on each side three, that is to say, the Ineus or Anvil, the Malleolus or Hammer, and the Stapes or stirrup, because in their figure they represent these three things; the use of these we will declare hereafter.

But also in some skulls there are found some divisions of bones, as it were collected fragments to the size almost of one’s thumb, furnished and distinguished by their proper commissures, or sutures, which thing is very fit to be known to a surgeon in the use of a trepan.

Verily he may give a conjecture hereof, whilst he separates the Pericranium from the skull, for the pericranium is with greater difficulty plucked away from the sutures, because the Crassa meninx has straighter connection therewith by his nervous fibers sent forth in such places. The skulls in women are softer and thinner than in men, and in children more than in women, and in young men more then in men of a middle age. Also the Aethiopians or Blackamoores, as also all the people inhabiting to the South, have their skulls more hard and composed with fewer sutures.

Therefore as it is written by Hippocrates, such as have their skulls the softer, the symptoms in fractures are more dangerous and to be feared in them. But the skull by how much the softer it is, by so much it more easily and readily yields to the perforating trepan. Moreover in some skulls, there be bunches standing out besides nature, made either round, or cornered, which the surgeon must observe for two causes; the first is for the better consideration of a blow or fracture. For in these bunches, or knots, the solution of the continuity cannot be, if it seem to be stretched in length, but that the wound must penetrate to the inner parts. For in a round body there can be no long wound; but it must be deep, by the weapon forced the deeper; because as a round body touches a plain but only inpuncte in a prick or point, so what-so-ever falls only lightly or superficially upon it, onely touches a point thereof. But on the contrary a long wound must be upon a plain surface, which may be but only superficial.

Another cause is, because such bunches change the figure and site of the sutures. And the surgeon must note that the skulls has two tables, in the midst whereof the Diploe is; which is a spongy substance into which many veins and arteries & a certain fleshiness are inserted, that the skull should not be so heavy, and that it might have within itself provision for the life thereof; and lastly that there might be freer passage out for the fuliginous vapors of the brain.

The upper table is thicker, denser, stronger and smoother than the lower. For this as it is the slenderer, so it is the more unequal, that it may give place to the internal veins and arteries (which make a manifest impression into the second table on the inside thereof) from which branches enter into the skull by the holes which contain the eyes. Which thing fastens the Crassa meninx to the skull, and is therefore very worthy to be observed.

For in great contusions when no fracture or fissure appears in the skull by reason of the great concussion or shaking of the brain, these vessels are often broken, whence happens a flux of blood between the skull and membranes, and lastly death. But it is fit the surgeon take good heed to the tender and soft substance of the Diploe, that when he comes to it, having passed the first table, he may carefully use his trepan, least by leaning too hard, it run in too violently, and hurt the membranes lying underneath it, whence convulsion and death would follow. To which danger I have found a remedy, by the happy invention of a trepan, as I will hereafter more at large declare in handling the wounds of the head.

V. Of the meninges, that is, the two membranes called dura mater and pia mater

The Crassa meninx is one of the first and principal membranes of the body; it goes forth by the futures and the holes of the nerves that proceed out of the skull; and it passes forth by the bone Ethmoids perforated for that purpose, to carry smells to the brain, and purge it of excrementitious humors. This same Crassa meninx invests the inner coat of the nose; also it passes forth of the great hole through which the spinal marrow passes, vested with this Crassa meninx, with all the nerves and membranes. For which cause, if any membrane in the whole body be hurt, by reason of that continuation which it has with the Meninges, it straight communicates the hurt to the head by consent.

The Crassa meninx is thicker and harder than all other membranes in the body; whereupon it has got the name of the Dura mater, besides also it begirts, produces, and defends the other membranes.

The use of it is to involve all the brain, and to keep it when it is dilated, that it be not hurt by the hardness of the skull. For the course of nature is such, that it always places some third thing of a middle nature, betwixt two contraries. Also the Crassa meninx, yields another commodity, which is, that it carries the veins and arteries entering the skull for a long space. For they insinuate themselves into that part, where the duplicated or folded Meninges separate the brain from the Cerebellum, and so from thence they are led by the sides of the Cerebellum, until they come, as it were, to the top thereof; where being united they insinuate themselves into that other part of the Crassa meninx, where in like manner being duplicated and doubled, it parts the brain at the top into the right and left; These united veins run in a direct passage even to the forehead, after the manner of the sagittal suture; They have called this passage of the mutually infolded veins, the Torcular, or Press, because the blood which nourishes the brain is pressed and drops from thence by the infinite mouths of these small veins. Therefore also here is another use of the Crassa meninx, to distinguish the brain by its duplication, being it thrusts itself deep into its body, into two parts, the fore and hind, and presently to separate the same into the right and left; that one part being hurt, the other may remain safe and sound, performing its duty to the creature, as we see in some that have the Palsey. Columbus observed that this Meninx was double, and verily I have found it true by my own sight.

The other Meninx or membrane of the brain, called Piamater, is most slender interchased with divers veins and arteries, for its own and the brains nourishment and life. This does not only involve the brain, as the Crassa meninx does, but also more deeply penetrates into the anfractuous passages thereof, that it may every where join and bind it to itself, not easily to be drawn from thence, by many small fibers whereby it descends even to the cavities of the ventricles thereof. Wherefore you must see it absolutely in the site as we have mentioned, and not pluck it away unless with the substance of the brain.

These membranes when they are hurt or afflicted, cause grievous and most bitter torment and pain; wherefore I dare say, that these membranes are rather the authors of sense than the brain itself, because in diseases of the brain, as in the lethargy, the party affected is troubled with little or no sense of pain.

VI. Of the brain

Now follows the brain, the beginning of the nerves and voluntary motion, the instrument of the first and principal faculty of the soul, that is, the animal and rational. Man has this part in greater plenty than any other creature, for it almost fills the whole skull. But if it should have filled it all, the brain could not be moved, that is, dilated and contracted in the skull. It is of a cold and moist temperature. The laudable temperature of the brain is known by the integrity and perfection of the internal and external senses, the indifferency of sleep and waking, the maturity or ripeness of judgment, and constancy of opinions, from which, unless it meet with better and more probable, it is not easy to be moved.

The first figure of the head, as it appears when the skull is taken away.

AA, BB. The Dura meninx or thick membrane.

CCC. The third Sinus of this membrane.

The course of the veins as they run through the membrane, or the second vein of the brain.
The first vein of the brain.

FFF. certain small veins which perforate the skull and reach to the pericranium or skull-skin.

GGG. Fibers of the Dura meninx passing through the Coronal Suture, which fibers make the Pericranium.

fibers passing through the sagittal Suture.
Others passing through the Lambdall Suture.
A knub which uses to grow to the Sinus of the skull.
A cavity in the fore-head bone.
The skull.
The Pericranium or skull-skin.

Fig. 2. The second figure showing the brain, the skull and Durham later being taken off.

AAA. A part of the Crasse meninx dividing the brain.

the third Sinus of the same Crasse membrane opened.
the beginning of the vessels out of the third Sinus into the Piamater.

DDD. the propagation or branches of these vessels.

EEE. the Piamater or thin meninx immediately compassing the brain.

FFF. certain vessels running through the convolutions or branches of the brain.

GGG. certain branches of veins running through the sides of the dura meninx.

HHH. The thick membrane reflected downward.

You can ascertain that the brain is overheated by the keenness of the senses and the agility of bodily movements, by shortened sleep durations, the rapid formation and alteration of opinions, by an unreliable and fleeting memory, and finally, by a heightened sensitivity to heat sources such as the sun and fire. Individuals with a colder brain tend to be slower in learning and comprehending, yet they maintain their once-formed opinions more steadfastly. They exhibit slower reactions and are more inclined to sleepiness. People with a dry brain also show a sluggishness in learning; dry bodies are less receptive to new impressions, but once retained, the knowledge is not easily forgotten. Furthermore, their physical movements are fast and agile. Conversely, those with a moist brain learn quickly but suffer from poor memory retention; just as easily as they absorb new information, they tend to let it slip away. This is similar to clay, which readily accepts any form or impression but soon after, the soft parts that yielded to the impression reconvene, thus mixing, obscuring, and distorting the original imprint. Therefore, sensory perceptions stemming from a cold brain are dull, movements are sluggish, and sleep is deep.

The primary function of the brain is to refine the Animal Spirit and to facilitate the necessary sensations that serve the entire body, acting as an instrument for the principal faculties, particularly reason. The brain is bifurcated into two main sections: the anterior and the posterior. The posterior, due to its smaller size, is referred to as the Cerebellum, or the “little brain.” In contrast, the anterior section retains the name “brain” owing to its larger size. This anterior portion is also divided into two halves: the right and left hemispheres, separated by the indentation we previously discussed, which is formed by the Meninges within the brain’s structure. However, it is important to note that this division should not be perceived as an absolute separation into distinct parts; rather, it is akin to how we describe the Liver and Lungs as being divided while still forming one continuous entity at their foundation. The outer surface of the brain is soft, while the inner surface is hard, callous, and remarkably smooth. Conversely, the outer appearance is characterized by indentations and irregularities, featuring numerous winding grooves and crest-like formations resembling worm-like folds.

VII. Of the Ventricles and Mamillary Processes of the brain.

Or the easy demonstration of the ventricles of the brain, it is convenient you cut away a large portion thereof, and in your cutting observe the blood sweating out of the pores of it. But besides, it is fit you consider the spongy substance by which the excrements of the brain are heaped up, to be presently strained out, and sent away by the hollow passage. In the substance of the brain you must observe 4 ventricles, mutually conjoined by certain passages, by which the spirits endued with the species of things sensible, may go from one into another. The first and two greater, one on each side are placed in the upper brain. The third is under them in the middle part of the brain. The fourth and last at the fore side of the Cerebellum, towards the beginning of the spinal marrow. The two foremost are extended the length way of the brain in the form of a semicircle, whose horns look or bend outwards. They are spacious and large, because it was meet the Spirits contained there together with their excrements, should be there purified and cleansed; but in other ventricles, the pure and already elaborate spirits are only received. These ventricles are white and smooth in their inner superficies; but that on each side they have an extuberancy at the midst of the semicircle, situate at the basis of the Pillar of the middle ventricle towards the nose under the Septum lucidum or clear partition, severing or parting in sunder these two ventricles.

This Septum lucidum, or clear or thin partition, is nothing else than a portion of the brain indifferently solid, but very clear, that so through this partition the animal spirits contained in these two ventricles may mutually pass and be communicated, and yet no other grosser substance may pierce the thin density thereof.

Wherefore it is not to be feared, that the water contained in one of the ventricles may pass to the other through this partition, as I have oft times observed to the great admiration of the spectators in the dead bodies of such as died of the Palsy, in which I have found the ventricle of that side which was taken with the palsy much dilated, according to the quantity of the water contained therein, the other being either wholly empty and without any; or certainly no fuller than in any other, dead through any other occasion. For some affirm that there is a certain kind of waterish moisture always to be found in the ventricles, which may be made by the condensation of the Animal spirits by the force of the deadly cold. But these two first ventricles of the brain go into one common passage, as both the bellows of a furnace, whereby the spirit instructed with the species of things goes into the under, or middle ventricle from the former. In these same first ventricles the Plexus Choroides is to be considered, and in like manner the passage by which the grosser excrements are driven or sent into the pituitary Glandule.

The third figure represents the cerebellum with the wormy processes separated from it.

the right and left part of the after brain

CD the anterior and posterior regions of the middle part of the after brain.

E The anterior wormy process

F the posterior wormy process.

GG In this place, the after brain did grow to the spinal marrow.

H The cavity in the spinal marrow makes the fourth ventricle

IK the anterior and posterior processes of the brain, called vermi-forms or the wormy processes.

This plexus choroides is nothing else, but a production of the pia mater diversely folded with the mutual implication of veins and arteries woven in the form of a net. These vessels are of magnitude and capacity sufficient, both to yield life and nourishment to that particle to which they are fastened, as also for the generation of the animal spirits, as which take fit matter from the veins stretched forth into this same plexus, the hind artery and vein torcular, and also from the air entering into the brain by the mammillary processes. But the mamillary processes are certain common ways for conveyance of the air and smells into the brain, and carrying of excrements from the brain.

For thus in them who have the catarrhe and coriza or pose, neither the air, nor smells can penetrate into the brain; whence frequent sneezings ensue, the brain strongly moving itself to the expulsion of that which is troublesome to it. But of the excrements of the brain, whether bred there, or proceeding from some other part, some are of a fumid and vaporous nature which breathe insensibly through the sutures of the skull; Others are gross and viscous, of which a great part is expelled by both these productions, or through each of them. For thus in the Pose you may see some who have one of their nostrils stopped, the other running, and some who have both obstructed. The most proper benefit of the two first ventricles of the brain is to entertain the fantasy as in a convenient seat and habitation, seeing the mind their estimates and disposes in order the species of things brought in from the external senses, that so it may receive a true judgment of them from reason which resides in the middle ventricle.

The third ventricle is seated between the hindermost extremities of the former ventricles, and the last ventricle of the cerebellum. In this six parts present themselves to our consideration, that is the Psallloides or arch, the Conarium, or pine Glandule, the Buttocks, wormelike productions, the Bason and passage which is from this middle into the last and hindmost ventricle. The Psalloides or arch is nothing else, but the cover of the middle ventricle, resembling a roof born up with three stays or pillars, the one whereof is extended to the nose under the Septum lucidum, the two other on each side one, look towards the back part of the brain. This is the reason of this figure which is outwardly convex and inwardly concave, to wit, that there might be free space for that motion which the Animal spirit inwardly produces, and besides that it might more easily sustain the burden of the brain lying upon it. For an arched figure is the most convenient of all other to sustain a weight.

The Conarium or Pine glandule, is a small Glandule of the same substance with the brain, round and somewhat long, like a pine Apple, from whence it has the name; this Glandule is seated over against a small hole which descends to the lowest ventricle. It has this use, to strengthen the division of the vessells led thither with the production of the Pia mater for the generation of the animal spirits, and the life and nourishment of the brain.

The Nates or Buttocks are subjected or placed under this Glandule, that is, bodies of a solid and white substance drawn out in length like a child’s buttocks, especially in beasts, and chiefly in a sheep. These buttocks have such a solid substance, that so they may keep open and free the passage, or channel that runs down from the middle to the lower ventricle, by means of which the brain participates with the Cerebellum.

The worm is a production of the Cerebellum or After-brain, to wit a portion of the same being in the top or beginning and as it were in the entrance thereof, being like many little circles or wheels mutually knit together by slender membranes; and it is so called because it resembles those thick white worms which are found in rotten wood. It does as it were perform the office of a porter to the formerly mentioned passage, that it may give way and entrance into the Cerebellum to a necessary quantity of spirits, when need requires; lest that, if they should rush with a sudden violence into the Cerebellum, they might confound the imprinted notions of things to be remembred.

The Pelvis or Bason is a passage appointed for the carrying away of the gross excrements by the palate, and is so called because it has the similitude and use of a bason or Tunnel: it descends from the third ventricle into the Glandule which is seated between the processes of the wedge-bone called the saddle thereof, as you may perceive by putting in a spatherne. Now there remains the last of the six parts proposed to our consideration in the third ventricle, that is, the Channel or passage running from this third ventricle into the fourth, for the use formerly mentioned.

This Channel descending in its origin from the Bason, goes from thence under the buttocks into the last ventricle, the Meninges being perforated; which that you may show, it is fit you put the end of a spatherne through it. The benefit of the third ventricle is; that it may be as a Tribunal or judgment seat to the Reasoning faculty, when the mind will draw conclusions from things seen.

The fourth ventricle is seated in the place we formerly mentioned; it is less than the rest, but more solid; less as that which was not to receive the spirit before it was purified, and cleansed from all impurities; but more solid that it might contain it the safer. The use therof is, to be as a Treasury and store-house of the opinion, and judgments which reason shall decree, that when need requires, we may fetch and draw them from thence as laid up in store. I know Galen, and the Greek Physicians have not so distinguished in places the three fore-mentioned faculties; but have written, that they all are all over confused through the whole substance of the brain, which opinion also Fernelius in his Pathologia has renewed. Yet I had rather follow this opinion, as commonly received and celebrated by the Arabian Physicians.

The Mammillary processes are the instruments and passages of smelling, being of the same substance with the brain, and like nerves, which run out from the hind horns of the upper or foremost ventricles of the brain to the Ethmoides and spongy bones of the nose, that hence they may receive the divers kinds of smells, and carry them into the brain. But although they be like nerves, yet they are not accounted nerves because they go not out of the skull.

The Fourth and Fifth Figures of the Brain.

RRR. the lower superficies of the callous body reflected.

STV. the triangular surface of the fornix or arch

the lower part of the partition of the ventricles continuated with the arch
the upper part of the partition continued with the callous body

Figure 6

AAA. the lower surface of the arch

two corners of the arch, by which it is continuated with the ventricles
the right and left ventricles
arteries climbing up from the sleepy arteries through the lower side of the ventricles for the forming of that complication of vessels which is called plexus choroides
a vessel issuing out of the fourth sinus under the arch, and passing into the third ventricle

IKL. the division of this vessel, a part whereof goes to the right ventricle at K, and another to the left at L

MN the plexus choroides made of the artery FG, and the vessel H

small veins passing through the ventricles of the brain, produced from the vessels K and L.
other veins arising from the same, dispersed without the ventricles into the piamater.
a passage from the third ventricle unto the basin or tunnel
canales or sinus graven or furrowed in the substance of the ventricles, in which the phlegme is led along to the orifice of the aforesaid passage marked with Q.

The Sixth Figure of the Brain.

parts of the spinal marrow cut from the brain
the places where this marrow did grow unto the brain
the testicles
the buttocks
the pine-glandule

From I to K, A part of the third ventricle going to the fourth, under the testicles

KLMN, a part of the fourth ventricle which is engraven in the marrow

the top of the fourth ventricle.
the place where the spinal marrow goes out of the skull

Figure XI.

parts of the optic nerves
the sleepy arteries
The basin or tunnel hanging down
a hole or perforation of the dura meninx, through which the tunnel reaches unto the glandule
Parts of the second conjugation of sinews

Figure XII.

The glandule
The basin or tunnel called pelvis or infundibulum
D, E, F. the four holes through which the phlegmatic excrement issues.

VIII. Of The 7 Conjugations Of The Nerves Of The brain, So Called, Because They Always Show The Nerves Conjugated And Doubled, That, Is On Each Side One

The nerves are the ways and instruments of the animal spirit and faculties of which those spirits are the vehicles, as long as they are contained in the brain; they consist of the only and simple marrowy substance of the brain; or spinal marrow. But passing forth of the brain, they have another membranous substance which involves them joined with them from the two membranes of the brain; and according to the opinion of some Anatomists, they have also a third from the ligaments drawn as well from divers others, as from these by which they are tied to the Vertebras; Yet this opinion seems absurd to me, seeing such a membrane, as that which is insensible, wholly repugnes the condition of a nerve, which is to give sense to the parts to which it is inserted.

The magnitude of the nerves is different, according to the divers necessity of sense incident to the parts into which they are inserted. Their figure is round, and long like to a conduit pipe to carry water in; the membranes of the brain, with which the nerves are covered, being dilated and stretched over them, after the same manner that the processes of the Peritonaeum involves the spermatic vessels, with which they go down to the Testicles, and take life and nourishment by the capillary veins and arteries, which descend to them with the membranes. They are made for this use, that they may impart sense to the sensitive parts, and motion to these that are fit to be moved. All the nerves descend from the brain either mediatly, or immediately; their number is seven and thirty pair, or conjugations, whereof seven have their origin immediately from the brain, the other thirty from the spinal marrow.

The first conjugation of the nerves of the brain is thicker than all the rest, and goes to the eyes, to carry the visive spirit to them. These arising from diverse parts of the brain, in the middle way before they go out of the skull meet together crosswise like the Iron of a Mill (which is fastened in the upper stone) going into one common passage with their cavities not visible to the eye; that so the spirits brought by those two nerves may be communicated, and they are mutually joined and meet together so, that being driven back from one eye they may fly back into the other. An argument wherof may be drawn from such as aim at any thing, who shutting one of their eyes, see more accurately; because the force of the neighboring spirits united into one eye, is more strong than when it is dispersed into both. This conjugation when it comes into the glassy humor, is spent in the structure of the net-like coat which contains this humor on the back part.

The second conjugation goes into many parts, at its passing forth of the skull, and in the bottom of the circle of the eye, it is distributed into the seven muscles moving the eyes.

The seventh figure showing the eight conjugations of the nerves of the brain.

the brain,
the after brain,

CC 1, 2, the swelling of the brain which some call the mammillary processes.

D 1, the beginning of the spinal marrow out of the Basis of the brain.

E 1, 2, a part of the spinal marrow when it is ready to issue out of the skull.

F F 1, 2, the mammillary processes which serve for the sense of Smelling.

GG 1, 2, the optic nerves.

H 1, the coition or union of the optic nerves.

II 1, 2, the coat of the eye whereinto the optic nerves is extended.

K K 1, 2, the second pair of the sinews, ordained for the motion of the eyes.

LL 1, 2, the third pair of sinews, or according to the most Anatomists the lesser root of the third pair.

MM 1, 2, the fourth pair of sinews, or the greater root of the third pair.

N 2, a branch of the third conjugation derived to the musculous skin of the forehead.

O 2, a branch of the same to the upper jaw.

P P 2, another into the coat of the nostrils.

Q 2, another into the temporal muscles.

R 2, a branch of the fourth conjugation crumpled like the tendril of a vine.

S 2, a branch of the same reaching unto the upper teeth and the gums.

T 2, another of the same to the lower jaw.

V 2, a Surcle of the branch T, to the lower lip.

XX 2, another surcle from the branch T, to the roots of the lower teeth.

YY2, the assumption of the nerves of the fourth conjugation unto the coat of the tongue.

Z 1, 2, the fourth pair are vulgarly so called which are spent into the coats of the palate.

a 1, 2. the fifth pair of sinews which belong to the hearing. Φ, the Auditory nerve spread abroad into the cavity of the stony bone.

* a hard part of the fifth conjugation above, the * which may be counted for a distinct nerve.

b 1, 2, a small branch derived from this harder part of the first pair.

c 1, 2, a lower branch from the same origin.

d 1, 2, this nerve is commonly ascribed to the fifth pair, but indeed is a distinct conjugation which we will call the Eight, because we would not interrupt the order of other mens accounts.

e 1, 2, the sixth pair of sinews.

f 2, a branch from them derived to the neck and the muscles couched thereupon.

g 2, another branch to the muscles of the Larinx or throttle,

h 1, 2, the seventh pair of sinews.

i 1, the union of the seventh pair with the sixth.

l 2, a propagation of the seventh pair to those muscles which arise from the Appendix called Styloides.

m 2, Surcles from the seventh conjugation to the muscles of the tongue, the bone Hyois and the Larynx.

o p q 1, three holes; through the hole o the phlegm issues out of the third ventricle of the brain to the Tunnell, and at p q, is the passage of the Soporary arteries to the ventricles of the brain.

The third is two-fold, in the passage out of the skull it is likewise divided into many branches, of which some are carried to the temporal muscles, into the masseters or grinding muscles, into the skin of the face, forehead and nose; Othersome are sent into the upper part of the cheek, and the parts belonging to it, as into the teeth, gums and the muscles of the upper lip; and those which are called the round which encompass the mouth on the inside; the last are wasted in the coat of the tongue, to bestow upon it the sense of tasting.

The fourth conjugation is much smaller, and is almost wholly wasted upon the coat of the Palate of the mouth, to endue it also with the sense of tasting.

The fifth at its origin and having not as yet passed forth of the skull, is divided into two, and sends the greater portion thereof to the hole of the ear, or passage of hearing, that it may support the auditory faculty; and it sends forth the other lesser portion thereof to the temporal muscles by the passage next to it; by which the second conjugation passes forth.

The sixth being the greatest next to the first, passing entire forth of the skull, imparts some small branches to certain muscles of the neck and throttle, and then descending into the chest, it makes the recurrent nerves, and dispersed over all the parts of the two lower bellies, it passes even to the bladder and testicles, as we showed in the former book.

The seventh is inserted and spent upon the muscles of the bone Hyois, the tongue and some of the throttle, to give them motion; it passes forth of the skull by the hole of the nowle bone at the extuberancies thereof.

IX. Of The Rete Mirabile, Or Wonderful Net, And Of The Wedge-Bone

The animal spirit is made of the vital, sent from the heart by the internal sleepy arteries to the brain. For it was requisite that it should be the more elaborate, because the action of the animal is more excellent than that of the vital. Nature has framed a texture of arteries in many places, running across one another, in the form of a net diverse times doubled; (whereupon it had the name of the wonderful net) that so the spirit by longer delay in these labyrinthine or maze-like turnings, might be more perfectly concocted and elaborate, and attain to a greater fitness to perform the animal functions.

This wonderful net situate at the sides of the Apophyses clinoides or productions of the wedgebone, is twofold; that is, divided by the pituitary Glandule which is scituate between the said Apophyses Clinoides, having the wedgebone lying under them, next to the Crassa Meninx, being perforated on the right and left side, next to which lie bones as rare as a sponge even to the Pallate, by which the Phlegme is purged by the mouth and nose; and therehence, I think, that spattle flows, which such as have a moist brain, continually spit out of their mouth.

the brain,
the cerebellum or after brain
a process of the brain, but not that which is called Mammillaris.
The marrow of the back, as it is yet within the skull,
the mammillary process or instrument of smelling
the optic nerve,
the coat of the eye into which the optic nerve is spread.
The nerve that moves the eye or the second pair,
the third conjugation, or the harder and lesser branch of the nerves of the third conjugation brought forward
the fourth conjugation or the greater and thicker nerve of the third pair bending downward
a branch of the nerve marked with I, which goes to the forehead,
another branch of the nerve I reaching to the upper jaw,
a nerve proceeding from the branch I, intexed or woven with the coat of the nose,
the nerve of the temporal muscle issuing from the branch I.
A nerve contorted of the nerves K and b.
A nerve proceeding from the branch K, to the sockets of the upper teeth.
A nerve creeping from the nerve K to the lower jaw.
A circle of the branch R, offered to the lower lip.
Other surcles from the branch R, attaining to the lower teeth.

VV, A branch of the nerve K, diffused into the coat of the tongue.

X X, The fourth pair of sinews which go into the coat of the palate.

Y, The fifth pair of sinews which are the nerves of hearing.

a, the membrane of the ear, unto which that fifth nerve goes.

b c, two small branches of the fifth conjugation uniting themselves with the nerve P.

à, the eight conjugation or a nerve of the fifth pair attaining unto the face.

ee, the sixth pair of nerves.

f, A branch from the nerve

e, reaching to the muscles of the neck.

g, Small branches derived unto the throttle or larynx.

h, the bifurcation of the nerve into two branches.

iii, An inner branch hanging to the rackbones, and strengthening the intercostal nerves, and is therefore called Intercostalis.

kk, Surcles of the utter branch going to the heads of the muscles, to the breast-bone and to the coller-bones.

l m, branches of the right nerve l, making the right Recurrent nerve.

m n, the insertion of the recurrent sinews into the muscles of the larinx.

o p, branches of the left nerve making the left recurrent sinew

qq, branches from the sixth conjugation going to the coat of the lungs.

r, small nerves of the heart and of the purse thereof called the Pericardium, as also some approaching to the coats of the lungs.

s, nerves on either side sent to the stomach.

t, the right stomach nerve going to the left orifice of the stomach.

u u, the left stomach nerve going to the right orifice of the stomach. x, a nerve from the branch u, passing into the hollowness of the liver.

y, the nerve belonging to the right side of the kell.

z, the nerve belonging to the collick gut.

α, a nerve creeping to the gut called duodenum and the beginning of the jejunum or empty gut. β, a nerve implanted in the right side of the bottom of the stomach.

γ, a nerve belonging to the liver and bladder of gall.

δ, a nerve reaching unto the right kidney.

* a branch reaching the Mesenterium and the guts.

ζ, a branch sprinkled to the right part of the bladder.

η, a branch going through the left part of the kel.

θα, surcles derived to the colic gut and the kel.

χ, small branches inserted into the spleen.

λλ, a nerve approaching to the left side of the bottom of the stomach.

μ, a branch belonging to the left side of the Mesentery and the guts.

ν, a branch which attains to the left kidney.

ξ, small nerves creeping through the left side of the bladder.

o, the seven pair of finewes.

a branch derived from the sixth conjugation to the muscles which arise from the process called Styloides.

a branch of the seventh conjugation which goes to the muscles of the tongue, of the bone hyois, and of the throttle or larynx.

a branch of the seventh conjugation which goes to the muscles of the tongue, of the bone hyois, and of the throttle or larynx.

A conjunction or coition of the 6. and 7. pair into one nerve.

These Apophyses clinoides are certain productions of the Osbasilare or wedge-bone, (called the Saddle thereof,) between which, as I said, the pituitary glandule lies with part of the wonderful net. There is a great controversy amongst Anatomists concerning this part; for Vesalius denies that it is in man, Columbus admits it, yet he seems to confound it with the Plexia Choroides. Truly I have observed it always after the manner, as Sylvius alledges against Vesalius. It remains, that we recite the perforations of the skull, because the knowledge of these much conduces to the understanding of the insertions of the veins, arteries and nerves.

X. Of The Holes Of The Inner Basis Of The Skull

In the first place are reckoned the holes of the bone Ethmoids; then those of the optic nerves; thirdly of the nerves moving the eyes. Fourthly of that portion, of the nerves, of the fourth conjugation which go to the temporal muscles. Fifthly are reckoned, these holes scarce visible, situated under the pituitary glandule, by which the spettle is evacuated. Sixthly that hole which is in the wedge bone made for the entrance of the internal sleepy Arteries, composing the wonderful Net, and then passing into the brain by a great slit. That perforation which we reckon in the seventh place is commonly double, made for the entrance of one of the branches of the internal Jugular vein. The eight hole is some-what long, of an oval figure, by which, part of the third conjugation and all the fourth conjugation passes forth. The ninth are the auditory passages. The tenth are very small holes, and give way to the vein and artery going to the auditory passage, above the foramen coecum. In the eleventh place are reckoned the perforations which yield passage forth to the sixth pair of nerves, to part of the sleepy Arteries, and of the internal jugular. In the twelfth those which yield a way out to the seventh conjugation; The great hole of the Nowle bone through which the spinal marrow passes is reckoned the thirteenth. The fourteenth is that, which most commonly is behind that great hole, by which the Cervical veins and arteries enter in.

XI. Of The Perforations Of The External Basis Of The brain.

There is a hole on each side at the eyebrows, by which passes a small nerve from the third conjugation coming out of the cavity of the orb of the eye, and going by the forehead bone to the eyebrows, that it may give motion to the two muscles of the upper eye-brow and forehead. Yet oftentimes the hole is but to be seen on one side, oft times there is a cleft instead thereof, otherwhiles it is not perforated nor cleft at all. The second, is the perforation of the greater corner of the eye, by which a portion of the nerves of the third conjugation descends to the coat of the nose; in this hole the Glandula Lachrymalis is seated. The third is seated under the eye, that it may give way to the other portion of the nerves of the third conjugation going to the parts of the face, and the teeth of the upper jaw. The fourth is at the beginning of the palate, amongst the cutting or shearing teeth, through which a vein, an artery and the coat of the palate passes out. In the fifth order are reckoned the perforations of the palate, by which the nerves descend from the fourth conjugation, to give, or cause the taste. In the sixth order are rancked the holes of the palate serving for respiration, and the phlegm falling from the brain by the nostrils. And there is a cleft under the yoake bone ascending into the orb of the eye, by which there is a way, as well for the nerves of the third conjugation to the temporal muscles, as also for certain veins and arteries. But also there is noted another hole at the mammillary process, which is not perforated in the judgment of the sense. Besides there is thought to be another at the hind root of the same process, by which a certain small vein passes from the jugular to the torcular. But I have only noted these three passages by the way, because there is so much variety in them, that nothing can be certainly said of them.

XII. Of The Spinal Marrow, Or Pith Of The Back.

The spinal marrow is like a river running from the fountain of the brain. This sends nerves for sense and motion to all the neighboring parts under the head, spreading its branches as from the body of a tree. These branches, as we shall hereafter show, are on each side thirty. This same spinal marrow is covered with the two membranes investing the brain, distinguished by no distance of place, as in the brain. But also it has another membrane added to these, being very hard and dense, which keeps it from being broken and violated by the violent bending of the body forewards and about. The diseases of this marrow do almost cause the like symptoms, as the diseases of the brain; for they hurt the sense and motion of all the parts lying beneath them, as for example; ff any of the vertebras of the back bone be moved out of their place, there follows a distortion or wresting aside of the marrow; but then especially if it happen that one of the vertebra’s be strained, so sharp and bitter a compression urges the marrow by reason of the bony body of the vertebra, that it will either rend it, or certainly hinder the passage of the spirit by it. But by these same holes of the vertebras the veins and arteries go to the spinal marrow for to give life and nourishment to it, as the nerves by them pass forth into all the lower parts of the body.

Figure 1. shows the form of the spinal marrow properly so called, with its membranes, and the nerves proceeding from it.

Figure 2. The spinal marrow naked and bare, together with its nerves, as most part of Anatomists have described it.

The tenth figure. Of the spinal marrow.

A, The beginning of the spinal marrow where it falls out of the skull.

B, The thickness thereof in the spondels or rack-bones of the loins.

C, The division thereof into strings, or hairy threads.

D, the seven nerves of the neck.

From D to E or from 7, to 19, show the nerves of the back.

From E to F, the nerves of the loins.

From F to G, the nerves of the os sacrum or holy bone.

H, the end of the marrow.

I K L, do show how the nerves do issue from the marrow in strings.

M M, the knots of the sinews made of the conjunction of those strings.

N O, the membranes that invest the marrow:

Figure 2.

A, The beginning of the spinal marrow in the skull.

3, 4, 5, 6, 7, These Characters show (according to Vesalius opinion) how the conjugations of the nerves of the brain do take their origin from the marrow remaining yet within the Skull.

B, The egress of the spinal marrow out of the skull.

C, The cords or strings whereinto it is divided.

D 7, The marrow of the neck and seven pair of sinews.

E 19, twelve pairs or conjugations of nerves proceeding from the marrow of the Chest.

F 24, The marrow of the loins and 5. pair of sinews.

G 30. the marrow of the holy-bone and

6, pair of sinews.

H, the extremity or end of the spinal marrow.

End of the Fifth Book.