frank randall – Page 4 – Outlander Anatomy

June 9, 2015January 3, 2021

Anatomy Lesson #23: Harming Hands – Helping Hands – Healing Hands

Hallo Outlander Anatomy students! Welcome to Anatomy Lesson #23: The Hand – Part 2. Anatomy Lesson #22 introduced the hand but there is still much more structure and function to learn.

Today’s task is three-fold: to enrich our understanding of hand anatomy, to apply that anatomy using images from Starz episodes and to consider how hands are used. For most of us, our hands are with us throughout life so the way we use them helps define how we work, play and live (Photo A).

So, how do we use our hands? What tasks do we apply them to? Are the tasks helpful, harmful or neither? Outlander books and the Starz series provide abundant examples of hurtful hands, helpful hands and healing hands which are considered in this lesson. Just so we are all on the same page, all Starz images in this lesson are from episode 116, To Ransom a Man’s Soul, unless otherwise stated.

Photo A

Let’s begin the lesson with a brief review of digit and thumb movements and of the hand skeleton.

Our four fingers (U.S. definition or digits #2-#5) carry out four movements: abduction, adduction, flexion and extension (Photo B). Try all four movements with your own fingers.

Photo B

Because thumb anatomy differs from that of the fingers, it can perform seven independent movements: abduction, adduction, extension, flexion, opposition, reposition (Photo C) and circumduction (thumb moves in a circle – not shown in Photo C). Try all seven thumb movements.

Reposition (Photo C – right image) is the hand with all digits at rest or repose, a benign anatomical position maintained with little muscular effort.

Photo C

In the image below, Claire’s healing hand is held in repose/reposition as she offers comfort to an angry, distraught guilt-ridden Jamie:

“Dinna touch me!” … “You canna save a man that doesna want saving!”

Next, consider the crazy creepy crawler’s hand reaching for Jamie, the “object” of his obsession (Starz episode 115, Wentworth Prison). The palm is turned from our view but consider his hand. Is it at rest? Is it neutral? Anatomically, BJR’s hand yearning for Jamie is very nearly in reposition and although it may seem benign, we know it portends great harm. There’s a keen difference between anatomical positions of the hand and the intent behind such positions.

Next, let’s review bones of the hand (Anatomy Lesson #22). The complex skeleton of the hand contains 27 bones (Photo D – left hand, palm up): 8 carpals in the wrist, 5 metacarpals in the mid-hand and 14 phalanges in the digits. Each finger (digits #2-#5) contains three phalanges but the thumb (digit #1) has only two.

The bones of the hand create many joints (Photo D):

- blue arrow shows wrist joints (between forearm and carpals)
- orange arrow shows carpometacarpal joints (CM)
- green arrow shows metacarpophalangeal joints (MP)
- turquoise arrow shows proximal interphalangeal joints (PIP)
- black arrow shows distal interphalangeal joints (DIP)
- red arrow shows a single interphalangeal joint (IP) of thumb.

Photo D: ©Stockmedicalart.com 2012

This creative rif on “The Scream” by Edvard Munch (Photo E) warns us that up next is toxic/nuclear waste in the form of handiwork by the bloody black-hearted bastard. In this lesson, I do resort to name calling – I canna help it when it comes to that wicked wretch!

Photo E

Now for applied anatomy, first of the hand bones: the villainous Jack-Hammer mangled the bones of Jamie’s left hand (right hand in the book) such that Claire is tasked with treating nine fractures. From herself’s own words (Outlander book):

…”A single broken finger is enough to sink a strong man to his knees with nauseated pain…“I carefully picked up the smashed right hand, bringing it into the candlelight for examination. It would have to be set, and as soon as possible. The injured muscles were already clawing the fingers inward.

“It was a long, horrible, nerve-wracking job….. some parts, such as the splinting of the two fingers with simple fractures, went quite easily. Others did not…. I set his middle finger, exerting considerable force necessary to draw the ends of the splintered bone back through the skin.

The next image shows a compound or open fracture of the proximal phalange of Jamie’s middle finger. Compound fractures are characterized by broken bone(s) protruding through the skin and indeed the distal broken fragment is clearly visible (aqua arrow) as Claire rinses it with clean (sterile) water.

$ep-116-compound-fracture-KLS-edited$

Claire retracts the tip of Jamie’s finger pulling the bony fragment back into the finger. She then approximates the broken ends of the phalange. Retraction could require some effort because following a fracture, attached muscles undergo spasm to form a “natural splint” designed to keep the broken ends of a bone together as much as possible. This explains the quote from Outlander book:

“The injured muscles were already clawing the fingers inward.”

$ep 116 compound fracture 01 KLS edited$

And a final quote from Outlander book:

“All five fingers eventually lay straight as new pins, stiff as sticks in their bandaged splints… By good luck, only the one joint had been badly damaged…there was nothing I could do about the cracked metacarpal bones or the puncture wound.”

As Claire applies her skills to Jamie’s battered hand, she stitches the lacerations and places his hand on a small wooden pallet. She binds the badly damaged ring finger to the little finger using the latter as a split. All is then secured with a linen strip wound around a wooden peg that is then inserted into a hole in the wood pallet. Wow! This is so impressive and resourceful as no knots are require; the peg can be removed, the strip unwound and the wound attended without messing with knots. Overall, this ingenious device is an external cage which stabilizes the hand in the proper anatomical position and immobilizes it during the healing process. Brilliant!

Finally, did you ken the red, purple, and dusky blue bruises forming on Jamie’s hand? There is more about bruising later in this lesson.

Now for applied anatomy of joints of the hand: in this jarring scene, we see the MP joints (green arrows) of BJR’s right fingers. He tells a traumatized Jamie “I know you can do better than this,” tapping the tip of his nose as one might correct an errant child. The total absence of regard for Jamie’s suffering tells us that the cunning cruel Captain does dwell in darkness and in darkness he shall remain.

Next, the unholy-one eyes Jamie writhing in agony: “Am I close? Have you reached your limit yet?” Oozing an air of utter boredom and sure knowledge of outcome, the mad menacing maniac sits with flexed left fingers that clearly display his left PIP joints (aqua arrows).

Soon, BJR instructs Jamie to brand himself with BJ’s glowing wax seal stamp – over the left breast and near the heart. “Are you mine? Show me … do it!” The red arrow shows the flexed IP joint and the green arrow indicates the flexed MP joint of Randall’s right thumb. Remember: the thumb has only two phalanges with one IP joint shared between them.

ep-116-branding-Jamie-02-KLS-edited

Wracked with pain, Jamie brands himself but stubbornly sears his left side; his heart belongs to Claire! The flexed DIP joints (red arrows) are visible on Jamie’s right fingers as he grips the stamp.

Remember the anatomical mantra: the more bones in a body part, the more possible joints between the bones; the more joints, the more possible movements at the joints? Bone movements occur when muscles that attach to them undergo contraction. So, to better understand hand movements, we must next consider muscles operating the hands.

In Anatomy Lesson #22 we learned that some forearm muscles move bones of the hand. To review, the forearm is divided into two compartments. The anterior compartment contains eight muscles six of which attach to bones of the palmar (front) hand. The posterior compartment contains 12 muscles nine of which attach to bones of the dorsal (back) hand. Covering all the forearm muscles that move hand bones isn’t feasible in a single lesson, so let’s consider a few.

Three important muscles originate from the anterior forearm and end on bones of the digits; these are the long flexor tendons.

The first muscle is flexor digitorum superficialis or FDS (Latin meaning superficial flexor of digits); this muscle arises from humerus and radius (Photo F). Near the wrist FDS splits into four tendons, one to the intermediate phalange of each finger. Contraction of FDS mainly flexes PIP joints (Anatomy Lesson #22) but continued contraction flexes MP and wrist joints.

Try this: strongly flex (curl) your fingers and wrist joint. You used FDS to accomplish this. Identify wrist, MP and PIP joints. Flexion of these joints is critical for the grip (Anatomy Lesson #22).

Photo F

Please think, if the digits have a superficial flexor will they also have a deep flexor? If you answered yes, then you are getting the idea of anatomy! The next anterior forearm muscle is flexor digitorum profundus or FDP (Latin meaning deep flexor of digits). Deep to FDS, FDP (Photo G) arises from the ulna and breaks into four tendons near the wrist to end on the distal phalange of each finger.

Now consider this: if tendons of FDS insert on the intermediate phalanges how will tendons of the deeper-lying FDP reach the distal phalanges? The body’s answer is ingenious! FDP goes through FDS: all four tendons of FDS split to allow FDP tendons to reach the distal phalanges (Photo G – red arrow). Do you see the splits? The engineering is awesome!

FDP flexes the DIP joints but it also contributes to flexion of PIP, MP and wrist joints.

Try this: Attempt to flex only the DIP joints of your fingers. Can you do it? I know a few folks who can but it is unusual. DIP joints typically flex in conjunction with PIP joints.

Photo G

The third muscle of the anterior forearm is Flexor Pollicis Longus or FPL (Latin meaning long flexor of thumb). FPL originates from the radius and inserts on the distal phalange of digit #1, the thumb (Photo H). Its major action is to flex the IP joint of the thumb but continued contraction also helps flex the MP joint.

Try this: flex your thumb and find the IP joint. Flexion is caused by FPL.

Photo H

Do you recall those eight carpal bones arranged in two rows of four bones each (Anatomy Lesson #22) – aye, the ones with the funny mnemonic? These bridge the gap between radius and ulna and five metacarpals. More than a dozen strong fibrous wrist ligaments bind together carpals, metacarpals, radius and ulna (Photo I – grey strands).

Photo I

Two-dimensional images imply that the carpals lay in a flat plane, but this is not so. Wrist ligaments secure them into a curved carpal arch that is convex on the dorsum and concave on the palmar surface (Photo J – curved red line). The carpal arch is spanned by a fibrous sheet, the flexor retinaculum thus forming a potential space, the carpal tunnel (Photo J). But, the tunnel is NOT empty because it contains four FDS tendons, four FDP tendons, one FPL tendon and the median nerve (Anatomy Lesson #22).

Now for an important clinical correlation: truly a tight squeeze, any swelling of structures within the carpal tunnel compresses the median nerve and affects hand areas it subserves, a condition known as carpal tunnel syndrome. Symptoms may include tingling, numbness and pain with reduced strength of thumb and index, middle and half the ring fingers. Repetitive motions that over-extend the wrist such as keyboard use, piano playing, or prolonged use of vibrating tools may be contributing factors.

Photo J

Next, we consider the muscles of the back of forearm and hand: known as long extensor tendons, several muscles reach from posterior forearm to bones of the hand. We won’t name these but to summarize: three long tendons extend the wrist (Photo K – blue arrows) and 5+ long tendons extend the finger joints (Photo K – red arrows). Three long tendons extend and/or abduct the thumb (Photo K – black arrows). Whew!

Photo K

A closer view at the dorsal hand shows long extensor tendons as they cross the wrist. These tendons are held in check by a fibrous band, the extensor retinaculum (Photo L – black arrow). Note bands of fibrous tissue between the long extensor tendons. Known as intertendinous connections they augment extension of the fingers as a unit; if one extensor muscle contracts, it helps activate its neighbors (Photo L).

Try this: Intertendinous connections are quite variable but let’s try to locate one. Place forearm and hand flat on a surface. Pronate the forearm to expose the back of your hand. Try to lift (extend) just the little finger. Can you do it? Next, lift ring, middle and index fingers one at a time. Are some fingers harder to lift independently? I have greatest difficulty lifting middle and ring fingers independently so I know they are bound by an intertendinous connection. Try to locate one of yours.

Photo L

Now, let’s consider intrinsic muscles of the hand beginning with the palmar surface. Palmar skin is tightly bound to an underlying fibrous sheet, the palmar aponeurosis, a feature that aids grasping (Photo M – red arrow). Two superficial muscles are apparent: palmaris longus and palmaris brevis. A forearm muscle, the tendon of palmaris longus blends with the palmar aponeurosis and tenses it during contraction. Many anatomists regard palmaris longus to be a vestigial muscle because it is absent in about 14% of people and its absence doesn’t really affect our ability to grip. Palmaris brevis is a tiny postage stamp-sized muscle near the base of the little finger (Photo M); its contraction puckers the palm skin and deepens a cupped palm.

Photo M

Try this: Spread your digits and tap your palm. Feel that taut springy tissue? That’s the palmar aponeurosis. Now, bring pads of thumb and little finger together and strongly flex the wrist. Does a tendon stand out in the midline (Photo N – black arrow)? If so, this is palmaris longus. Repeat with the opposite side. What is the pattern of your forearm? Do you have two palmaris longus muscles, one or neither? Turns out I have one on the left but none on the right.

Photo N

I love watching Jamie balance and twirl a dirk on the palm of his hand (Starz episode 105, Rent). See the puckered flesh at the base of his palm (red arrow)? This is caused by contraction of palmaris brevis to help cup his palm and support the dirk. Yep, Jamie has one! Is Claire watching his clever performance? Aren’t we all?

The hand contains 19 intrinsic muscles (including palmaris brevis), meaning they arise and insert within the hand itself. These small muscles initiate fine movements of the digits. It would be tedious to name them all so understand that the thumb has four intrinsic muscles concerned with flexion, opposition, adduction and abduction (Photo O – green overlay). The little finger has three muscles which flex, oppose, and abduct (Photo O- purple overlay). Between the long flexor tendons and metacarpal bones are 11 additional muscles (lumbricals and interossei) which help flex, abduct and adduct the fingers (Photo O – black arrows). All totaled a whopping 34 forearm and hand muscles are involved in hand movements!

Photo O

Like most body parts, the hand needs a blood supply. The large ulnar and radial arteries descend through the forearm, cross the wrist to form superficial and deep palmar arches (Photo P). Branches from both arterial arches produce two small arteries (proper palmar digital arteries) for each finger. The radial artery supplies branches to the thumb. The dorsal hand (not shown) has a smaller arterial arch that produces two more small arteries to each finger. Ergo, each finger has four supplying arteries; the thumb has three.

Photo P

For those who do not understand blood flow, a full lesson on this subject lies in the future. For now, please know that the digital arteries carry blood ladened with oxygen and nutrients to the digits. They divide into smaller arterioles which branch into microscopic capillaries forming capillary beds (Photo Q). In the capillary bed, oxygen and nutrients are exchanged for carbon dioxide and waste products. The capillary bed reforms into venules that unite to form veins draining blood from the tissues. This general plan is followed throughout the hand and in most body tissues.

Photo Q

Time for a clinical correlation about blood supply: capillaries have very thin walls. When subjected to trauma, these vessels burst leaking blood into surrounding soft tissues. Extravasated blood presents as a contusion, a reddish-purple-dusky discoloration which doesn’t blanch when pressed: the classic “black and blue” bruise (Photo R).

Photo R

Several students have inquired about Jamie’s blackened hand and digits following his rescue from Wentworth Prison. They were concerned that his hand exhibited tissue necrosis or gangrene. But no, discoloration is due to the beating administered by that depraved, demented devil. This gut-wrenching scene gives evidence of early bruising (black arrow): a vivid color range from deep red to purple to dusky blue. Very convincing!

Later on the Cristabel, Jamie’s thumb and fingertips are fully black and blue. The pounding mallet did a number on his hand capillaries and the bruising is fierce!

We are done with the real and applied anatomy lesson so let’s finish with examples of how hands are used in Starz episode 116 To Ransom a Man’s Soul.

“Dear God, you are a magnificent creature” utters the crazy cunning cutthroat with Jamie spread across his lap. As I gazed at this imagery, it seemed vaguely familiar. Then, B-I-N-G-O!

Intentional or not the position, posture and attitude are very nearly a mirror image of the Pietà, a Renaissance sculpture by Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) of the Madonna cradling a crucified Christ. This riveting juxtaposition of images reveals universal opposites: dark versus light; evil versus good; cruelty versus mercy, all deeply rooted themes in Diana’s works. Randall even draws the analogy to Jamie’s suffering: “Ah, so that’s your plan; to submit like Christ on the cross?” Helping hands, healing hands, or hurting hands. No brainer, here!

Later, the foul, festering fiend sensuously rubs lavender oil into Jamie’s painful burn telling him “These are Claire’s hands. Think of your wife.” There are new bruises on Jamie’s left shoulder. We don’t know what caused these – mayhap a mallet blow went astray? We shouldna be deceived by this perceived gentleness because BJ is about to deliver extreme mental pain to Jamie. Hurting hands, helping hands, healing hands?

After suffering hours of agonizing pain, BJ tells Jamie to:

“Think of Claire. Think of your wife. Wait for me. Claire’s here.”

Sadly, the soulless one said he would have Jamie’s surrender before he left this world and he does. Then BJ delivers his cruel, mocking coup de grâce: “I understand. How could she ever forgive you?” His hands are made for hurting and they are remarkably skilled at their work!

Ugh! Enough of hurting hands…How about some healing hands? We already witnessed Claire’s healing hands as she cleanses and sets Jamie’s battered hand. Here she tidily stitches his skin lacerations. Her competency as a 20^th century WWII combat nurse, her ingenuity at using 18^th century tools and her brilliant, fertile mind are testimonies of her love and devotion to Jamie. Her hands have come to his rescue over and over throughout the Starz series; a true symbol of healing.

We’ve seen Claire reset Jamie’s broken bones and mend his wounds. Picking lavender, grinding buds in a mortar and pestle to make oil of lavender is yet another example of her healing hands as she prepares to enter the darkness with Jamie.

As she rests her healing hand on her husband, he struggles with shame and self-loathing. “You belong to no one else but me…Well, Randall had your body but I’ll be damned if he has your soul as well.” Go Claire! Ye make us proud!

Finally, Godfather Murtagh’s healing hands are at work as he cuts JR from Jamie’s skin and casts the scrap into the fiery furnace! Mercifully, healing hands are plentiful in Starz episode 116.

Let’s finish this lesson with examples of helping hands. First is a fantastic image of the three Highland musketeers rescuing Jamie from the “thug under the door.” Murtagh stolidly carries his precious cargo from Wentworth Prison to freedom. Angus furtively peers backward with dirk in hand while Rupert rides shotgun! Yeah, helping hands! Ye made me weep with relief!

So many helping hands at the monastery reach out to the party of Highlanders offering refuge, supplies and care for Jamie, wounded in body and soul.

More helping hands as the goodly Father comforts Claire after her confession: a far cry from Father Bain, no?

Finally, we catch Angus’ au revoir kiss but did ye ken that the wee laddie’s helping hand helps itself to some of Claire’s personal real estate? Naughty Angus Mhor!

Helping hands, healing hands, hurting hands… how shall we use our own? Mine will continue to write lessons throughout the summer although most will be shorter and less complex. Thanks to all who love anatomy and Outlander!

Oh! Last week, I was invited by Jennifer Barnes, Ryan Hooks and Keetin Marchi (they are such great fun!) to give a mini anatomy lesson about the hand on the Outlander Aftershow at TheStream.TV. You can see it below around 16:30. Now that we face another bout of withoutlander, you can join our friendly hosts for the Outlander Book Club on Monday nights where they compare and contrast the book and the show: http://bit.ly/1dqHXxQ. Happy Summer!

The deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

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Photo creds: Sony/Starz, Netter’s Atlas of Human Anatomy, 4th ed Gray’s Atlas of Anatomy for Students, 2005, ClinicallyOriented Anatomy 5th ed, www.artsology.com, www.imgbuddy.com, www.medicalartlibrary.com, www.parlmreadingperspectives.wordpress.com, www.wikipedia.org, www.wikiradiography.com, www.shutterstock.com

May 26, 2015January 3, 2021

Anatomy Lesson #22: Jamie’s Hand – Symbol of Sacrifice

Welcome, anatomy students, to Anatomy Lesson #22: The Hand. Anatomy of the human hand is daunting because it is complex. The hand is a true engineering marvel, containing four of the six classical simple machines as defined by Renaissance scientists: wedges, planes, pulleys, levers. This structural diversity makes the hand arguably the most mobile part of the entire musculoskeletal system (Photo A).

Languages include abundant references to hands so over emphasizing their importance might be a challenge. One English source on hand idioms records almost 300 common references: bird in hand, give me a hand, firm hand, hand-me-down, safe hands, helping hands, tie ones hands (shade #1 of BJR), throwing up one’s hands, wandering hands (shade #2 of BJR), wash ones hands of, lift a hand, lay hands on (shade #3 of BJR) to name but a few.

Photo A

In human anatomy, structure and function go “hand-in-hand” (another idiom): if a body part performs a particular function(s) its structure reflects that task and vice versa a body part that has a particular structure will reflect the function(s) it is designed to fulfil. There is no finer example of this axiom than the human hand.

More pertinent to our shared interest, holding hands and touching are important elements of the Outlander books and the Starz series (a.k.a. hand sex). Herself’s own words from Jamie and Claire’s wedding night (Outlander book):

Somewhat tentatively, he reached out and took my hands between his own … I felt a slight shock at the touch … “Aye. More scairt than you, I expect. That’s why I’m holdin’ your hands; to keep my own from shaking.” I didn’t believe this, but squeezed his hands tightly in appreciation. “It’s a good idea. It feels a little easier to talk while we’re touching.”

And, from Neil Diamond:

Hands, touchin’ hands

Reachin’ out, touchin’ me, touchin’ you

Sadly, this lesson must include images and analysis of Jamie’s hand after BJR adds his “aesthetic” twist. There will be a WARNING ahead of these images to give you the opportunity to skip them. They appear near the lesson’s end. Look for the warning sign before those images and the kitten when it’s safe to come out. I must also confess, that this chapter in the book and Starz episode 115 Wentworth Prison made it difficult for my usual sass to fly in this lesson. My sass is sad and worried about Jamie and Claire and ready to pull out a can of whoop ass on BJR. Here BJR, this is for YOU!

Back to the lesson at hand (haha)…Photo B of the upper limb has appeared in several prior Outlander Anatomy Lessons. But, to reiterate: the shoulder is from base of neck to shoulder joint, the arm is between shoulder and elbow joints, the forearm between elbow and wrist joints and the hand is the terminus of the upper limb. More precisely, the hand lies distal to (away from) the forearm.

Photo B

To better understand the hand, we must further consider the forearm. Remember supination? From Starz episode 107 The Wedding, we see a fine example of forearm supination (and elbow joint extension) as Dougal slices Claire’s wrist for her blood vow with Jamie. With the forearm in supination, ulna and radius are parallel, palm faces forward or up, thumb is directed away from body.

Recall pronation? Next is a great example of forearm pronation (and elbow joint flexion) as Claire removes Frank’s gold wedding band prior to marrying Jamie (Starz episode 107, The Wedding). In forearm pronation, distal radius crosses distal ulna, palm faces downward or back and thumb is directed toward the body.

Try this: To review, flex your elbow joint and alternately rotate forearm between supination and pronation. Review positions of radius, ulna and thumb in each of the two movements.

The forearm contains a whopping 20 muscles: eight in a flexor compartment and 12 in an extensor compartment! Flexor muscles lie anterior to ulna and radius and are best demonstrated with a supinated forearm. Photo C shows five muscles of the flexor compartment which arise from the medial epicondyle of humerus (red arrow). I’ll not drown you with the intricate names which reflect function and position. Suffice it to say that although the muscle bellies of the flexors lie in the forearm, they become tendons near the wrist (blue arrow) and then insert into bones of the hand and cause movement.

Photo C

Try this: Examine your wrist with palm up and see or feel various tendons: these are the flexor tendons that arise in the anterior forearm but insert on bones of wrist, thumb and fingers.

The 12 extensor muscles of the forearm lie posterior to radius and ulna and are best viewed from the back of a supinated forearm. Photo D (forearm viewed from the back) shows four extensor muscles which arise from the lateral epicondyle of humerus (red arrow). Again, naming all 12 extensors along with their actions truly would be tedious. However, the same theme repeats itself: the muscular part of the extensors lie in the forearm, they become tendons near the wrist (blue arrow) and insert into bones of wrist, thumb and fingers and cause movement.

Photo D

Try this: Examine your hand with palm down and see or feel various extensor tendons on the dorsum of hand. Next, grip your supinated forearm and make a strong fist. Now bend the wrist toward (flexion) and then away (extension) from your torso. Feel muscles of flexor and extensor compartments alternately contract and relax with wrist movement? Just doing their jobs!

Want to see an excellent example of extensor tendons (Starz episode 109, The Reckoning)? Here Claire threatens a shocked Jamie within an inch of his carotid arteries! The taut tendons (red arrows) on the dorsum of her hand belong to an extensor forearm muscle (extensor digitorum). Mmphm, she doesna even break rhythm. Jamie croaks “You have my word!” No surprise there! Erm, that’s one impressive looking dirk!

You may recognize Rembrandt’s famous 1632 painting The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicholaes Tulp (Photo E – body likely a condemned criminal). As demonstrator of anatomy (a position I held for many years), Dr. Tulp was demonstrating left forearm and hand muscles to eager viewers. The painting records a real event: in that era, public dissections were not uncommon in Europe. But, did you know this fabulous work of art is anatomically questionable? Indeed, its anatomical accuracy has been debated for decades with advocates as well as detractors. One meticulous study recreated Dr. Tulp’s lesson and concluded that the work was anatomically incorrect, but posited that it was intended to be a symbolic rather than an accurate depiction of the dissection.

What is anatomically incorrect about Rembrandt’s masterpiece? Let’s reason together. The body’s right forearm is pronated but the left forearm is supinated (palm up and thumb directed away from body). Now, which humeral epicondyle gives origin to forearm flexors? If you answered medial epicondyle, congrats! But, the painting shows left forearm flexors arising from the lateral epicondyle and therein lays its major (there are minor ones too) anatomical inaccuracy! As such, the work is a valuable teaching aid for lectures and exams to promote observational skills.

Photo E

Now for the hand: in science, the term hand or manus (Latin for hand) is used to identify the termini of our upper limbs.

The front of the hand is its palmar surface (Photo F); it is fleshy because it includes intrinsic hand muscles (in a later lesson), forearm flexor tendons, blood vessels, nerves etc. Palmar skin is thick, hairless and lacks sebaceous glands (Anatomy Lesson #5 & Anatomy Lesson #6). The dermis is thrown into deep ridges which increase friction and help secure grip. Dermal ridges are also the anatomical basis for fingerprints. Compared with other skin, palm skin is lighter in color because its cells have genes inhibiting melanin production and the ability to tan (Anatomy Lesson #6).

Try this: Examine the whorls of one fingertip and realize that dermal ridges create the valleys and elevations of a finger print.

The hand back is its dorsum or dorsal surface (Photo F): this is covered with hair but the skin is thin, soft and pliable and it tans. This surface also has little flesh because it contains no intrinsic hand muscles and contains flat extensor tendons, blood vessels and nerves.

Try this: Alternately supinate and pronate (Anatomy Lesson #20) your forearm to compare and contrast palmar and dorsal skin, the presence or absence of hair and the relative thickness of the skin.

Photo F

The hand is divided into wrist (blue overlay), mid-hand (green overlay) and five digits (Photo G). Fingers can be folded individually or together over the palm allowing objects to be grasped. With the palm facing up or forward, the thumb or pollex (Latin meaning thumb) points away from the body. Also, our thumbs are opposable meaning they can be brought toward each or all fingers as in a pinch.

Photo G

An interesting tidbit about digits: in anatomy, the digits are numbered 1-5 beginning with thumb and ending with little finger (Table 1 -1^st column). But, the English word “finger” includes the thumb (Table 1 -2^nd column) and matches the anatomical digit number. Now in the U.S., digits are defined as thumb and four fingers (Table 1 -3^rd column) meaning the 1^st finger is also the 2^nd digit! This can be a problem. Why? Let’s say a patient is scheduled for a digital procedure – the correct digit must be designated: do written instructions refer to a finger or a digit?

The good news: nowadays U.S. anatomists and clinicians preferentially use the digit name (Table 1- last column): thumb for 1^st digit, index for 2^nd, middle for 3^rd, ring for 4^th and little/small for 5^th. This practice helps minimize medical error and most importantly, protects the patient! In this lesson, I use the digit naming system.

ANATOMICAL DIGIT NUMBER	ENGLISH FINGER NUMBERING SYSTEM	U.S. FINGER NUMBERING SYSTEM	DIGIT NAME SYSTEM
1^st	1^st (thumb)	Thumb	Thumb
2^nd	2^nd	1^st	Index
3^rd	3^rd	2^nd	Middle
4^th	4^th	3^rd	Ring
5^th	5^th	4^th	Little/small

Table 1

Try this: Starting with the thumb, assign numbers to digits and repeat using digit name.

Next, let’s consider nerves of the hand. Three large nerves innervate skin, blood vessels, muscles, ligaments, joints and bone coverings (periosteum) of the hand. Some fibers provide sensory information to the brain while others stimulate muscles to contract and glands to secrete. The three nerves of the hand are: radial, median and ulnar (Photo H).

Photo H

Palmar skin has one of the densest arrays of nerve endings in the human body and is an exquisite source of tactile info to the brain. Here, sensation in the form of pain, temperature, vibratory sense, pressure and touch is mostly provided by median (gold) and ulnar (blue) nerves (Photo I). And, yes, believe it or not sensation to the palmar surface of ring finger is split down the midline between median and ulnar nerves!

Photo I

Sensation to the dorsum of the hand is supplied mostly by radial (pink) and ulnar (blue) nerves but the median nerve (gold) supplies some fingertips (Photo J).

Photo J

Try this: Place index and middle fingers in the groove behind the medial epicondyle of one humerus (Anatomy Lesson #20) and move the fingers up and down. Feel a faint shocking sensation? Congrats! You found your ulnar nerve! Supinate the forearm and press deeply with the thumb just above the wrist. Feel the discomfort? You just found your median nerve (involved in carpal tunnel syndrome)!

Next, let’s examine the hand skeleton: each hand contains 27 bones. Together both hands contain more than 25% of the 206 bones of the entire human skeleton! This is not only amazing it also accounts for hand movements: more bones = more joints = more movements. Hand bones include (Photo K – palm faces the face): 8 carpal bones (purple) of wrist; 5 metacarpal bones (orange) of mid-hand; 14 phalanges of the digits. Finger phalanges are further named by position: proximal phalanges (green) articulate with metacarpal bones and intermediate phalanges; intermediate phalanges (blue) articulate with proximal and distal phalanges; distal phalanges (peach) articulate with intermediate phalanges. Note that the thumb has only two (proximal and distal) phalanges.

Photo K

Try this: Palpate your hand and locate all 5 groups of hand bones.

The carpus (Latin for wrist) consists of eight interlocking carpal bones arranged in two rows of four bones each (Photo L – supinated hand points away from body). The main roles of the carpus are to facilitate effective positioning of the hand, increase freedom of movement at the wrist, and form an arch (carpal tunnel) through which passes tendons and a nerve.

Carpal bones have Latin names meaning moon-shaped, boat-shaped, three-cornered, etc. They are named beginning on the thumb (metacarpal #1) side of the near row and moving to the thumb side of the far row.

Photo L: Figure0435A carpal bones KLS edited

How does one recall carpal names and positions? This is a fun and popular mnemonic used by anatomists and one designed to keep student attention: Some Lovers Try Positions That They Can’t Handle. This one is suitable for public consumption – some are not: anatomists being naughty!

ROW NUMBER	BONE NAME	BONE NAME	BONE NAME	BONE NAME
Proximal Row	Some (scaphoid)	Lovers (lunate)	Try (triquetrum)	Positions (pisiform)
Distal Row	That (trapezium)	They (trapezoid)	Can’t (capitate)	Handle (hamate)

The mid-hand (palm) region contains five metacarpals one for each digit and labelled #1- #5 beginning with the thumb (Photo M).

The digits contain phalanges: proximal and distal for thumb and proximal, middle and distal for each finger (Photo M). Do the math: yep, adds up to 27 bones! The hand also contains a few small sesamoid bones (red arrow) but their numbers are inconsistent and not included in the bone count.

Photo M

The number of joints in the hand is mind boggling! Here they are (Photo N):

Intercarpal (IC) Joints: between and among the carpal bones (purple arrows).
Carpometacarpal (CM) Joints: between distal row of carpal bones and metacarpal bones (blue arrow).
Metacarpophalangeal joints (MP) Joints: between metacarpals and proximal phalanges (green arrow).
Proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints: between proximal and middle phalanges of fingers (red arrow).
Distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints: between middle and distal phalanges of fingers (orange arrow).
Interphalangeal (IP) Joint: Between two phalanges of thumb (black arrow).

Photo N

Try this: with your own hand, identify as many of these joints as possible.

This is a terrific example from Starz episode 107 The Wedding showing some of hand joints as Jamie reaches into his sporran to retrieve his brooch (green arrow = MP joint; red arrow = PIP joint). Murtagh just wants to spit-polish the pin. To be that pin…sigh…

An interesting and not uncommon congenital condition is the presence of supernumerary digits on hands/feet. Known as polydactyly, the additional digit(s) may or may not be functional. Photo O is an x-ray of a child’s hand with an additional normal metacarpal (red arrow) and digit (green arrow). Here, metacarpals crowd at the CM joints (blue arrow) to make room for the extra bone. Supernumerary digits may be surgically treated. The world record holder was born with 34 digits on hands and feet. Our Jamie could use another one of these for sure!

Photo O

As already noted, the hand is capable of many movements because of the numerous bones and joints. There are 16 classical hand movements although many more combos are possible. Five movements occur at the wrist (Photo P) giving it considerable flexibility: flexion, extension, radial deviation, ulnar deviation and circumduction. Contraction of forearm flexors causes wrist flexion and contraction of forearm extensors causes wrist extension. Interestingly, radial deviation (hand draws toward radius) occurs if radial extensor and radial flexor contract simultaneously. Ulnar deviation (hand draws toward ulna) occurs when ulnar extensor and ulnar flexor contract simultaneously. Circumduction (not shown) occurs as the wrist rolls in a circular motion.

Photo P

Try this: Mimic the four wrist movements as shown In Photo P. Try circumduction which is not shown.

How about examples of wrist movements from Outlander episodes? Here are two to keep you focused!

Claire has one major throwing arm! Here she extends her left wrist and elbow joint for balance (red arrow); her right wrist is also extended (blue arrow) but the same elbow joint is flexed as she launches crockery at Jamie! She’ll not let him beat her (Starz episode 109, The Reckoning) without opening up her own can of whoop ass!

Here in a steamy scene of make-up sex, Claire’s left wrist is in ulnar deviation (hand moves toward ulna – red arrow) as she gently touches the face of her warrior husband (Starz episode 109, The Reckoning). Gah! Scoop me up with a spoon…what a scene!

Next, let’s examine movements of the thumb, an extremely versatile digit. Photo Q shows 6 classic thumb movements: abduction (thumb moves 90° from palm and fingers); adduction (thumb returns to resting position); extension (thumb moves away from the fingers but remains in the same plane); flexion (thumb curls in front of the palm); opposition (thumb pinches one or all fingers). In the resting position or reposition, thumb is adjacent to palm and fingers. One last thumb movement is circumduction (not shown) wherein the thumb is rolled in a circular motion.

Photo Q

Try This: Move your thumb through all 7 movements as described above.

Thumb movements are plentiful in Starz episodes. Here is Claire using her left thumb to steady the beautiful ring placed on her right ring finger by The Big Red One (Starz episode 107, The Wedding). Her thumb IP joint (blue arrow) is flexed; MP joint (red arrow) is mostly extended.

We havena see Dougal for a while so here he executes one of his devious, seal-a-deals with Claire: if she canna free Jamie or he is dead, she will marry him (Starz episode 114, The Search). Uhhh…I dinna think Claire will marry Dougal –no way, no how – but a clever ruse to access his men for a rescue attempt.

Finally there are four finger movements: abduction wherein index, ring and little fingers move away from the middle finger (Photo R –purple arrows). By definition the middle finger abducts no matter which direction it sweeps (think windshield wiper). Adduction is returning fingers to the resting position (Photo R –green arrows). Finger abduction and adduction are carried out by intrinsic muscles of the hand which will be cover in a later lesson.

Finger flexion occurs when one or more fingers are curled toward the palm and includes some or all MP, PIP and DIP joints (Photo R –red arrows). Contraction of forearm flexors (and intrinsic hand muscles) produces these movements. Finally, finger extension (Photo R -blue arrows) occurs when one or more fingers are straightened. Contraction of forearm extensors produces these movements.

Photo R

Try this: Using the fingers, try flexion, extension, abduction and adduction.

Claire is in our sights once again as she circles Jamie (Starz episode 107, The Wedding). Her left fingers are extended and abducted; thumb is extended. Not only is this a great example of hand movement butt, oops, but, it is also…well, we all ken this hand gesture!

Finally, thumb and fingers provide various power grips the muscular force generated by the hands (Photo S). Grip is important in everyday life and for most athletic ventures.

- Cylindrical power grip uses thumb abduction and finger flexion to tightly grasp a rounded object.
- Spherical power grip is similar but thumb abduction and finger flexion is looser as in gripping a larger object.
- Hook power grip uses extended MP finger joints but flexed DIP and PIP joints (thumb may be flexed or abducted) as in carrying the handle of a bucket.
- Precision pinch grip is used to grasp small or delicate items.

Photo S

Jamie exhibits a hook power grip as his right hand clutches his dirk: MP joints extended, PIP and DIP joints flexed. He’s headed for Fort William with an empty gun and his own bare hands to rescue Claire from the redcoats (Starz episode 109, The Reckoning)!

Next, is a great example of precision pinch grip in which right thumb opposes right index finger as Jamie clutches his doomed petition of complaint for the Duke of Sandringham. Humm…wonder what those bloody MacDonalds are doing here…

Next is a terrifying example of a cylindrical power grip with BJR’s left thumb abducted and fingers flexed around Claire’s swanlike neck (Anatomy Lesson #12). He is hurting her and her face is sheened with tears and “the sweat of exertion” as narrated by BJR (Starz episode 115, Wentworth Prison).

Yet another example of the cylindrical power grip. Look familiar (Starz episode 108, Both Sides Now)? Remind you of anyone you know? Puir not-her-name Sally! She messed with the wrong guy…iffy spherical power-grip genes in that line.

As if we need a reminder, our beloved Jamie’s hands are nimble and elegant (Starz episode 107, The Wedding). In fact, his fingers and hands play their own characters just as Claire’s hair does (Anatomy Lesson #6) throughout the books. This was especially evident during his marriage to Claire. Here his left fingers drape gracefully over his right wrist as he utters his blood vow. His left thumb is slight abducted. His right hand executes a loose spherical grip around Claire’s right wrist and forearm. Stunning imagery!

WARNING: the time has come to examine the damage to Jamie’s hand. After the next few paragraphs, his torture will begin so skip to the kitten if you must.

Fast forward to Starz episode 115, Wentworth Prison, an episode thoughtfully rated “graphic violence”!

About midway through the episode, Jack makes an offer Jamie canna refuse: a swift and honorable death in exchange for free use of his body. But, Jamie does refuse: “I’ll not surrender to you or any man.” The foul fiend vows “I will have your surrender before you leave this world.”

Next, a great scuffle ensues given that Jamie is half starved, chained by an ankle manacle and weaponless against two men, one a minor league giant. Black Jack asks “why do you force me to hurt you?” Oh yeah, Jamie’s forcing your hand! As instructed, genius Marley slams Jamie’s left hand on the wooden table as Jack grasps the mallet (aye, he has it in a spherical power grip).

Jack smashes the mallet on Jamie’s left mid-hand followed by about three more strikes. The vulgar villain then launches a volley of totally insane queries: Why do you force me to treat you in such an abominable way? Why do you choose to spend the few hours left to you as a miserable cripple? Why do you force me to hurt you? Och, he’s a delusional devil!

Soon, Claire finds Jamie alone (from Outlander book):

“What has he done to you?” I asked … Moving with exquisite care, he used his left hand to lift the object he had been cradling. It was his right hand, almost unrecognizable as a human appendage. Grotesquely swollen, it was now a bloated bag, blotched with red and purple, the fingers dangling at crazy angles. A white shard of bone poked through the torn skin of the middle finger, and a trickle of blood stained the knuckles, puffed into shapeless dimples.”

But a minor detail, the left hand is mashed, otherwise the destruction is akin to the Outlander book’s version: swollen fingers, black and blue skin, blood, bone/tendon exposed. A heavy mallet messes with delicate hand anatomy!

Unfortunately the effing, sadistic piece of shite and his Igor return to find Claire with Jamie. An engrossing exchange ensues between the black bastard and Claire as Marley adds his own singular brand of visual horror. With a flare of desperate strength and courage, Claire shoves Marley and pushes BJR into a wall in a vain attempt to strangle him. Marley ends up dead and Claire ends up hostage.

Next arrives the pivotal moment in this entire episode: Jamie, accepting that he will die on the morrow offers himself in exchange for Claire’s life. “Let her go in safety and you can have me. I won’t struggle. You, you can do as you wish. You have my word!” His body is the only card he has left to play in this gruesome game and he uses it to ransom Claire. Diana explains (Outlander book):

Randall walked slowly…picking up the mallet as he went. He held it up, ironically questioning. “You’ll allow me a brief test of your sincerity?” “Aye.” Jamie’s voice was as steady as his hands, flat and motionless on the table. I tried to speak, to utter some protest, but my throat had dried to a sticky silence. Moving without haste, Randall… positioned the point with care and brought the mallet down, driving the nail through Jamie’s right hand into the table with four solid blows.

In the Starz episode, Jamie’s left palm faces up as Jack impales it to the table. Intentional or not and regardless of your philosophical bent, the shocking image of Jamie’s palm pierced by a nail driven into wood is the ultimate symbol of sacrifice in the Western world. And, a costly sacrifice it is.

ep 115 Jamies hand 02 KLS edited

peeking

It’s safe to come out now! Had to use two kittens just to make sure…

“I love you, mo nighean donn.”

What bolsters us, is the knowledge that Claire’s loving kiss will help sustain Jamie trapped in the vortex of Jack’s dark madness.

Again, from Neil:

Warm, touchin’ warm

Reachin’ out, touchin’ me, touchin’ you

ep 115 Claires hand KLS edited

Now, a few final comments for the sake of science: take heart all! in Outlander book Claire observes that Jamie handles a fifteen pound Claymore as though it were a mere flywhisk. Jamie is a warrior, an athlete whose limbs are heavily muscled. Many studies have shown that muscular activity thickens bones; ergo, Jamie’s hand bones will tolerate more abuse than most because he is so fit and fine.

Further, will the nail wound greatly damage Jamie’s hand? Actually, not so much! In the living, nerves, tendons and larger blood vessels are slippery and will likely slide away from the nail path. But, the pain is agonizing: pain receptors of the mangled hand are already on fire from the mallet and the nailing adds fuel to that inferno. But, of the two tools, the mallet is by far the greater destroyer.

Farewell for this lesson. Let us join hands in the hope that Starz episode 116 sees Claire redeem Jamie’s hand and his soul!

The deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

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Photo Credits Starz, Gray’s Atlas of Anatomy for Students, 2005, Netter’s Atlas of Human Anatomy, 4^th ed., Clinically Oriented Anatomy, 5^th ed., www.breakingmuscle.com, www.britannica.com, www.cs.cmu.edu (types of grips) , www.pinterest.com, www.physioadvisor.com.au, www.pixshark.com, www.researchgate.net, www.slice-works.com, www.the anatomist.wordpress.com (thumb movements), www.ittcs.wordpress.com (arches of hand with grip), www.wikipedia.org, www.wikiradiography.com, www.webmd.com, www.heroesandheartbreakers.com, www.englishstackexchange.com.

May 15, 2015May 15, 2015

Hold Fast Jamie!

One more day and Wentworth Prison (Starz Episode 115) is here! Claire and her posse survey the daunting task ahead. Impossible? Do ye not ken the Fellowship of the Ring, where in one hobbit and eight companions took on a balrog, Shelob and thousands of orcs, fell beasts, wargs, Nazguls and won? Our Highland Fellowship is at least as strong, clever and able as a wee guy with hairy feet.

Way worse than Saruman, no man, especially Jamie, is safe as BJR stalks the stone corridors of that dank gaol. This demon sucks light like a black hole: “I dwell in darkness, madam. Darkness is where I belong. “

Hold fast and have faith Jamie! The Highland fellowship is on its way!

Claire isn’t about to go down without a fight. That’s it girl! Get in his face and let him have it! I can’t wait to see Claire unleash her wit and fury against this mad bastard! Are we with her?!!

The deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist