This text discusses proportional measurements of the human body, focusing on the hand and arm. Using units likened to noses, heads, and ancient measurements like cubits, it explains how these proportions relate to the overall human figure. It also covers how arm length changes with movement and how these observations are evident in anatomical depictions.
The Human Figures
They particularly knew how to determine the male genital size by the length and thickness of the nose. Similarly, the cleavage of women was judged by the opening of the mouth; as belief and common sense dictated. The hand is approximately three noses long, and suitably proportioned to be gracefully spanned. The first length is from where the hand folds inward at the wrist to the middle line of the palm. The second from there to the second joint of the middle finger; and the third from there to the fingertip. The arms measured from the upper part to the tip of the long finger are twelve noses or three heads long. From the elbow to the tip of the middle finger is generally a fourth of a whole human figure, which is about a cubit or elbow measurement of one and a half work feet. A well-made person can measure six such feet as previously stated. The neck can measure thirteen inches in work measure, and the arm at the wrist is about halfway to these measurements. The arm extends nearly an eighth part in length when bent at a right angle, rather than when stretched out straight; this extension mostly occurs in the part from the shoulder to the elbow. The reason for this is that at the elbow, each joint receives the next, being extended in a straight arm and elongated in a bent arm, thus lengthening the outgoing part. This is apparent in our depiction of the bones.
Translation Notes
1. "Neusen" refers to a unit of measurement likened to the size of a nose.
2. "Werk voet" translates to "work feet", likely a specific unit of measure used historically.
3. "Elleboogh" refers to the cubit, an ancient unit based on the forearm length.