The text discusses the role and structure of bones and limbs in the human body, explaining their function as supports and how they are counted differently in various cultures. The bones can be joined with joints for movement or tightly bound through growth, affecting their flexibility and mobility. The passage highlights the importance of these structures for maintaining the body's stability and function.
The Human Figures
Due to the lack of many limbs and legs. The legs are somewhat deep within and located in the middle of the flesh to act as foundational pillars and supports for the body. To stand for a long time without deteriorating, they are preserved by the meat. Those who have made it their concern to count the bones bring them to a number of 249, also sometimes 304; others to as many as there are days in the year, which is 365. The Jews say that there are as many bones or limbs in the human body as there are commandments to observe; which also corresponds to the days of the year, with the number that could be learned and fulfilled. Others count only 206 bones.
The bones are joined together in various ways: Some are joined with joints, others are bound tightly through growth. Those with joints have movement and are positioned so that one bone receives and another is received, as can be seen in the thigh and hip bone; there are also mutual connections that intermingle, such as the shoulder and elbow: where one bone receives another and even returns again; and these make the limbs more flexible than when they are stretched out straight because they interlock with each other; as we've already mentioned in relation to the arm.
The bones that are tightly bound together through growth, are joined in a nail-like fashion with cartilage and are bound tight with ligaments; and they have no movement in themselves. The heads of the bones are with a hard surface.
Translation Notes
Messchkunde: Translated here as 'human studies' or 'figure studies', in keeping with the context of studying human anatomy and art.