Category: Fun Facts

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Fun Fact: latissimus dorsi

latissimus /läˈtisəməs/ dorsi /dor-si/
Sing. n: latissimus dorsi; pl. noun: latissimi dorsi
First use: early 17th century
From Latin latissimus meaning broadest + dorsum meaning back

ep-106-latissimus-dorsi
Anatomy def: Broadest pair of back muscles, extending from lower spinal vertebrae to each humerus. Latissimi dorsi extend the humeri (pl.) as in pull-ups but also adduct (pull against torso) and internally rotate (roll towards sternum) these bones. Commonly known as “lats,” at the gym.

Outlander def: Substantial Jamie “lats” strain against ghastly iron manacles as they anticipate the lead pummels!

Learn about latissimi dorsi and the movements each exerts on its respective humerus in Anatomy Lesson #19, “To Arms, Too Arms, Two Arms!”

Read about Jamie’s back muscles in Dragonfly in Amber book. Herself writes about back muscles fairly often (yay!). Somewhere, amid these back muscles are the latissimus dorsi!

Jamie had by now thrown himself on the floor and was doing the Royal Air Force exercises I had recommended to strengthen the muscles of his back.

He was gentle and slow, pausing now and then to kiss me deeply, moving again only at my silent urging. I ran my hands softly down the slope of his back, careful not to press on the healing ridges of the fresh scars.

I touched each soft hollow, the hidden places of his body. Felt the grace and the strength of each curving bone, the marvel of his firm-knit muscles, drawn lean and flexible across the span of his shoulders, smooth and solid down the length of his back…

See Jamie’s left latissimus dorsi (red arrows) bulge at Fort William’s whipping post (Starz, episode 106, The Garrison Commander). If only he could smack that madman in the mouth… Ahhhh, wait a wee bit Jamie, this will come to pass soon!

A deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

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Fun Fact: incision

incision

Anatomy Def: Cut, opening, or slit in skin or flesh.

Outlander Def: Horrific wound in Rupert’s belly wall delivered by a sharp, sweeping redcoat blade at the Battle of Prestonpans!

Learn about incision wounds in Anatomy Lesson #35, Outlander Owies! – Part One. Learn the differences between incision wounds and lacerations!

Read about Jamie’s incision wound in Dragonfly in Amber book. Why Jamie? Because Rupert doesna suffer an incision wound in Diana’s books, so Jamie must do:

Leaving my head injury to mind himself for a moment, I stepped forward and opened the shirt, pulling it gently away from the injured side. Despite the quantity of blood, I knew it must not be a serious wound; he stood like a rock, and the blood no longer flowed. It was a saber-slash, slanting across the ribs. A lucky angle; straight in and it would have gone deep into the intercostal muscles between the ribs. As it was, an eight-inch flap of skin gaped loose, red beginning to ooze beneath it again with the release of pressure. It would take a goodly number of stitches to repair, but aside from the constant danger of infection, the wound was in no way serious.

See Rupert’s wound and watch Claire close it using a continuous, over and over surgical stitch in Starz episode 210, Prestonpans. Whew, many Highlanders are lucky that Claire went back through the stones!

ep-210-incision-02

A deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

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Fun Fact: masseter

masseter

Anatomy def: One of four pairs of muscles of mastication; masseters close the lower jaw during chewing or gritting the teeth.

Outlander def: Muscles of intense energy, activated by agony, frustration, aggression, torment, trauma, or anger! Etc., etc., etc.

Learn about masseter muscles, mandible, and mastication in Anatomy Lesson #26, “Jamie’s Chin – Manly Mentus.”

Read about Jamie and his clenched jaw (and Clair’s) from Dragonfly in Amber book:

“Jamie,” I said, into the folds of his plaid. “I’m going back with you.” He started back, staring down at me. “The hell you are!” he said. “I am.” I felt very calm, with no trace of doubt. “I can make a kilt of my arisaid; there are enough young boys with the army that I can pass for one. You’ve said yourself it will all be confusion. No one will notice.”

“No!” he said. “No, Claire!” His jaw was clenched, and he was glaring at me with a mixture of anger and horror. “If you’re not afraid, I’m not either,” I said, firming my own jaw. “It will … be over quickly. You said so.” My chin was beginning to quiver, despite my determination. “Jamie—I won’t … I can’t … I bloody won’t live without you, and that’s all!”

See Jamie’s contracted masseter and clenched jaws reveal his fierce warrior side as he heads into battle against the redcoats (Starz episode 210, Prestonpans). Mayhap his sword and dirk will meet up with Captain Black Jack? No, not this time, Jamie, but soon!!!!

A deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist