THE 



ANATOMIST'S VADE MECUM. 



CHAPTER I. 



OSTEOLOGY. 



THE bones are the organs of support to the animal frame ; they 

 give firmness and strength to the entire fabric, afford points of con- 

 nection to the numerous muscles, and bestow individual character 

 upon the body. In the limbs they are hollow cylinders, admirably 

 calculated by their conformation and structure to resist violence and 

 support weight. In the trunk and head, they are flattened and arched, 

 to protect cavities and provide an extensive surface for attachment. 

 In some situations they present projections of variable length, which 

 serve as levers ; and in others are grooved into smooth surfaces, which 

 act as pulleys for the passage of tendons. Moreover, besides supply- 

 ing strength and solidity, they are equally adapted, by their numerous 

 divisions and mutual apposition, to fulfil every movement which may 

 tend to the preservation of the creature, or be conducive to his 

 welfare. 



According to the latest analysis by Berzelius, bone is composed of 

 about one-third of animal substance, which is almost completely redu- 

 cible to gelatine by boiling, and of two-thirds of earthy and alkaline 

 salts. The special constituents are present in the following propor- 

 tions : 



Cartilage 32' 17 parts. 



Blood-vessels M3 



Phosphate of lime .... 51*04 

 Carbonate of lime .... ll'SO 



Fluate of lime 2 



Phosphate of magnesia : . . 1*16 



Soda, Chloride of sodium . . . 1*20 



