OUTLINES OF PHYSIOLOGY. 



ANATOMY; 



OR, 



THE LIFELESS BODY. 



THE GENERAL PLAN OF THE BODY. 



THE SKELETON. 



THE internal solid basis, or framework, of the Human body, like 

 that of the bodies of all the Vertebrate Animals, consists of the bones, 

 - which taken together constitute the skeleton, Figs. 1 and 2. 



The skeleton gives general form to the body, and determines its 

 linear proportions. Like the entire body itself, it is easily subdivided 

 into the Head, the Trunk, and the Limbs. In the natural state, the 

 separate pieces of the skeleton are held together by strong flexible 

 membranous bands, named ligaments, as represented on the left side 

 of the figures. 



The head consists of the smooth round part called the cranium or 

 skull proper, and of an uneven part corresponding with the face, the 

 bone forming the lower jaw being the only movable piece in this por- 

 tion of the skeleton. 



The trunk is composed, first and fundamentally, of a strong median 

 column, consisting of many bones, and occupying the middle line of 

 the back, Fig. 2. It bears the head upon its summit, and terminates 

 in the soft parts below. It is called the back-bone; also, from its 

 numerous projections backwards, the spine, or the spinal column ; and 

 again, the vertebral column, because its numerous component pieces are 

 named vertebrce, from verto, I turn, each piece having a slight turning 

 movement upon those next to it. The parts of the spine correspond- 

 ing with the neck and loins, have no separate bony pieces attached to 

 them laterally ; but in the intermediate part, corresponding with what 

 is generally known as the back proper, those long slender curved 

 bones called the ribs or costce, are found fastened to it on either side, 



