Human osteology : comprising a description of the bones ; with delineations of the attachments of the muscles, the general and microscopic structure of the bone and its development : to which is added a brief notice of the unity of type in the construction of the vertebrate skeleton / by Luther Holden.

  • Holden, Luther, 1815-1905.
Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Human osteology : comprising a description of the bones ; with delineations of the attachments of the muscles, the general and microscopic structure of the bone and its development : to which is added a brief notice of the unity of type in the construction of the vertebrate skeleton / by Luther Holden. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

    17/434 (page 5)
    . ^ ''one fi t; meUtl ofthereiDaiiiiiig98i)arts,88i Ifli not onlj as tie priDapal eartij 1 of I)ODe, bat is coDfaina^iore pv.,.s ofthelwdy. Ofalino^ic ■ the most essential for vegetable jitisnotonlyani^timpor'^tartiele ^mm. Those F^' :,)betliein« ites. ..certaiiiedl'J^^' ,0' ON THE STRUCTUBE OF BONE. Strength of bone. From the experiments of Professor Robison, it appears that the strength of bone, as contrasted with other substances, is remarkable. He found that the follow- ing materials stood in point of strength to each other thus : — Fine freestone, as . . 1-0 Lead . 6-5 Elm and ash . . 8-5 Pox, yew, oak . . 11-0 Bone . 22-0 bone. Hence bone is twice as strong as oak. Professor Eobison found that a piece of bone an inch square would bear 5000 lbs. weight.* Besides this, we shall presently see that bone is constructed so as to give the greatest strength with the least expenditure of materials. Elasticity of In consequence of the animal matter they contain, bones possess a certain amount of elas- ticity. If a skull be thrown upon the ground, it will rebound. The degree of elasticity varies in dififerent bones, according to their form and texture. The clavicle, for instance, owing to its curved form, is remarkably elastic,—a property which enables it to break the shock of a fall upon the hand. If one end of a clavicle be placed at right angles against a hard substance, and the other struck with a smart blow of a hammer, we shall find that the bone will rebound to a distance of nearly two feet. The ribs, too, are exceedingly elastic. The Arab children make excellent bows with the ribs of camels. Perhaps the best instance we can adduce of elasticity in bone is the clavicle (merry-thought) of the bird. It acts as a spring, and restores the base of the wings to their proper position after the action of the muscles of flight. All the long bones in the human body are more or less curved, that they may have the benefit of elasticity. Division of bones Though the bones present every variety of into three eiasses. form and size, yet, for convenience of description, anatomists divide them into three classes—1. The long and ll