Tag: fun facts

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Fun Fact: erector spinae

erector-spinaes

Anatomy def: bundle of vertically-oriented back muscles, one on each side of the spine; straighten the back and rotate the trunk from left to right.

Outlander def: paired columns of awesome, delightful Jamie muscles that flank the midline spinal groove.

Learn about erector spinae in Anatomy Lesson #10 “Jamie’s Back” or “Aye, Jamie’s Back!”

Read about Jamie’s erector spinae as Claire muses about these rounded columns of back muscles in Outlander book:

I thought with some regret that it must have been quite a beautiful back at one time. His skin was fair and fresh, and the lines of bone and muscle were still solid and graceful, the shoulders flat and square-set and the backbone a smooth, straight groove cut deep between the rounded columns of muscle that rose on either side of it.

See Jamie’s erector spinae muscles flex and bulge in rebellion at Dougal’s daring “usury” in Starz episode 105, Rent (also see his erector spine in episodes 102, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 112, 115 16...pretty much in every episode. Snort!)

A deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

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Fun Fact – vetebra prominens

vertebra-prominens

Anatomy def: prominent spine of seventh cervical vertebrae at base of neck.

Outlander def: wee bonny bone at back of the neck; perfect for Jamie’s caresses.

Learn about vertebra prominens in Anatomy Lesson #12, “Claire’s Neck” or “The Ivory Tower.”

Read about Claire’s neck in Outlander book…Jamie has a fondness for Claire’s neck:

But Jamie was not quite finished…ignoring Dougal’s fuming, he drew a short string of white beads from his sporran. He stepped forward and fastened the necklace around my neck. Looking down, I could see it was a string of small baroque pearls, those irregularly shaped productions of freshwater mussels, interspersed with tiny pierced-work gold roundels. Smaller pearls dangled from the gold beads. “They’re only Scotch pearls,” he said, apologetically, “but they look bonny on you.” His fingers lingered a moment on my neck.

and again…..

“Aye,” he said thoughtfully. “There may be. That’s why Dougal waited up for me; he’s had some news.” “Really? What sort?” I turned my head to look up at him again; the movement brought my ear within reach of his fingers, and he began to stroke lightly around it, making me want to arch my neck and purr like a cat. I repressed the impulse, though, in favor of finding out what he meant to do.

See Claire’s vertebra prominens as she ponders Davie Beaton’s recipe for headache “take ye one ball of horse dung”….Ugh! (Starz episode 103, The Way Out).

A deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

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Fun Fact – risorius

risorius

Anatomy def: narrow band of muscle fibers arising from the fascia over each masseter muscle, inserting into tissues at the corners of the mouth, and acting to retract the angles of the mouth.

Outlander def: paired, strong muscles pulling back the corners of the mouth as in a grin, or a grimace to menace wary victims!

Learn about the risorius muscle in Anatomy Lesson #13: “Frank and BJR” or “Face Off.”

Read about BRJ’s face in Outlander book:

Whatever this man’s cousin looked like, the man himself might have been Frank’s brother. There was the same lithe, spare build and fine-drawn bones; the same chiseled lines of the face; the level brows and wide hazel eyes; and the same dark hair, curved smooth across the brow. But this man’s hair was long, tied back from his face with a leather thong. And the gypsy skin showed the deep-baked tan of months, no, years, of exposure to the weather, not the light golden color Frank’s had attained during our Scottish holiday.

See BJR’s risorii muscles in action as he glowers at Claire (Starz episode 101, Sassenach)!

Risorii muscles are likely the bases for the vertical skin creases commented upon in a recent interview with Tobias Menzies.

And, for the truly dedicated, the December 2015 issue of Smithsonian showcases an interesting article “Face to Face” (pp. 46-51) about software being developed to decode facial expressions and change the way we interact with our devices and each other. No more emoticons?  Gasp!

A deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist