The text describes the nature and function of the bone joints, emphasizing their smooth surface to avoid friction. It discusses the structure and moisture essential for joint flexibility, and how aging affects them, leading to hardness and stiffness. The text also explains specific skull bones and their depiction in images A and B.
Bone Connection
Covered with hard and smooth cartilage; to prevent friction from causing discomfort or pain, it was necessary to make the bone similar to horn and insensitive, also to fill the hollows; likewise, the largest bones are largely hollow to facilitate movement, rather than solid, made purely of marrow from within, moistened like a soft oil that continually creeps through the spongy exterior and joints into the spaces of the joints, to keep the joints nimble for all manner of action. This moisture in the elderly dries up, and the joints harden, causing them to become like rusty ironwork, stiff, and crippled. Therefore, it is said, as someone is old and dried up with age. But let us look more closely at the bones in their connection and composition; leaving the deficiencies and dislocations to the attention of the physician: who therefore need the teachings of osteology most urgently, as the great Hippocrates earnestly advised in a certain letter to his son Thessalus.
Explanation of the Print Representation of the Bones of the Human Image.
1. The Forehead Bone, also simply called the Forehead. It is the large and foremost bone of the skullcap, which makes the entire forehead. See Image A.
2. The Back of the Head corresponds to Image B.
3. Both the Side Plates that form the Crown of the Head.
Translation Notes
- "Been-Koppeling" translates as "Bone Connection", referring to the joints and their connections.
- The term "Hoorn-achtig" is translated as "similar to horn" indicating the hard, insensitive nature intended.
- "Oostekunde" is translated as "osteology" which is the study of bones.