CHAPTER VI. 



THE HUMAN SKELETON* 



1. OF all the wonderful works of the great Architect, none 

 bears such convincing proofs of divine wisdom and good- 

 ness as the mechanism of ^he human body. Every part, 

 down to the minutest fibre or blood-vessel, bears the impress 

 of the Creator's hand, and the marks of design and contri- 

 vance are so obvious throughout, as to lead the mind irre- 

 sistibly to an all-wise, Omnipotent designer ! 



2. The human skeleton consists of about (252 bones, in- 

 cluding the sesamoid, the teeth, and the small bones of the 

 ear ; though they are generally reckoned at 21 1/. They are 

 divided into those of the head, trunk, and extremities, some 

 of them being single, others in pairs. (VVhen the bones com- 

 posing the skeleton are connected together by natural liga- 

 ments, they form what is called a natural skeleton; when by 

 wires, it is termed an artificial skeleton. The latter is the 

 common and most useful mode of articulation to the anato- 

 mist, as the joints can be easily moved and examined. The 

 skeleton has been called the bony frame work of the body, 

 because by its form and solidity, it not only retains every 

 part of the fabric in its proper shape, but also affords a hard 

 surface for the attachment of muscles, and the protection of 

 many important organs.) If we suppose a plane to pass 

 down from the top of the head through the middle of the skele- 

 ton, the latter will be divided into two equal portions, called 

 the right and left side of the body, which are perfectly alike 

 in shape and size. ^Those bones which are situated in the 

 centre, such as the spine and breast bone, and are inter- 

 sected by it, are said to be symmetrical,' because they are 

 divided equally ; the others, such as the bones of the arm 

 and leg, are in pairs. 



