The nervous system of the human body. Embracing the papers delivered to the Royal Society on the subject of the nerves.

  • Bell, Charles, Sir.
Date:
1830
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The nervous system of the human body. Embracing the papers delivered to the Royal Society on the subject of the nerves. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

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    its origin from the posterior portion of the spinal marrow without convulsing the muscles of the back; but that on touch- ing the anterior fasciculus with the point of the knife, the mus- cles of the back were immediately convulsed. Such were my reasons for concluding that the cerebrum and cerebellum were parts distinct in function, and that every nerve possessing a double function obtained that by having a double root. I now saw the meaning of the double connexion of the nerves with the spinal marrow; and also the cause of that seem- ing intricacy in the connexions of nerves throughout their course, which were not double at their origins. The spinal nerves being double, and having their roots in the spinal marrow, of which a portion comes from the cerebrum, and a portion from the cerebellum, they convey the attributes of both grand divisions of the brain to every part, and therefore the distribution of such nerves is simple, one nerve supplying its destined part. But the nerves which come directly from the brain come from parts of the brain which vary in operation; and in order to bestow different qualities on the parts to which the nerves are distributed, two or more nerves must be united in their course, or at their final destination. Hence it is that the first nerve must have branches of the fifth united with it: hence the portio dura of the seventh pervades every where the bones of the cranium, to unite with the extended branches of the fifth ; hence the union of the third and fifth in the orbit: hence the ninth and fifth are both sent to the tongue: hence it is, in short, that no part is sufficiently supplied by one single nerve,