THE MUSCLES 



35 



5. The Tendons. Tendons, or sinews, are the extremities 

 of muscles, and are firmly fastened upon the bone. They are 



B 



FIG. 14 shows the muscles and tendons of the hand ; A showing the palm, B the back of the 

 hand. These numerous muscles and tendons form a very complicated piece of mechan- 

 ism, and help to give to the hand its marvellous dexterity and flexibility 



very strong, and of a silvery whiteness. They may be felt just 

 beneath the skin, in certain parts of the body, when the muscles 



1. The Perfection of the Human Hand. " Gordy counts thirty-four 

 distinct movements of the hand, and if we include the combinations of 

 these different movements, we shall reach a much higher number. Prop- 

 erly speaking, the hand belongs to man alone, and its form does not per- 

 mit us to consider it an organ of locomotion, as is the case with certain 

 animals most closely resembling man. Nothing gives a more, complete 

 idea of the perfection of the mechanism of the hand than the execution of 

 instrumental music. Examine an artist while he plays the violin. His 

 fingers rest upon the strings so as to leave them exactly of the length 

 necessary for the tones they are to give. The half of a millimetre, more 

 or less, greatly changes the accuracy of the note ; and a chord a milli- 

 metre out of place produces a note which even the unpractised ear can 

 recognize as false. But the fingers fall upon the strings at precisely the 

 point required. They run over them, succeeding each other with giddy 

 rapidity, following every imaginable combination, and yet the hand gliding 



5. What are the tendons or sinews ? Their strength ? Color ? Location ? Tendon of 

 Achilles? The fable? Muscles of the leg ? 



