Tag: humananatomy

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Fun Fact: Extensor Indicis

Anatomy def: Extensor indicis is a muscle of the extensor (back) forearm – its tendon extends (straightens) the index finger (pointer finger or forefinger).

Outlander def: Jamie’s pointer finger twitches madly as Claire and Jenny come face-to-face in their terse meet-and-greet. Tappity tap – a 20-year gap. Scary!

Learn about extensor indicis in Anatomy Lesson #23, Harming Hands – Helping Hands – Healing Hands.

Turns out, the index finger receives tendons from extensor indicis and extensor digitorum (covered in a earlier FF).  Both muscles lie in the back of forearm but the tendons cross the wrist and insert into bones of the index finger. The dual tendons straighten (extend) and lift the index finger, offering it greater strength in extension and more independent movement from the remaining three fingers.

Fun Fact: In US anatomy, the thumb is not counted as a finger, so index finger is the first. Across the pond, some European anatomists define the thumb as  the first finger, so index is counted as the second finger. Ergo, many surgeons prefer using: thumb, index, middle, ring and little fingers (or something similar) to omit possible mix-ups of finger numbers during surgery. Scary x2!

Rewatch Starz episode 308, First Wife, to see Jamie’s pointer finger flutter as he ponders the strain between first wife and big sista. Not good! 

Read about Jamie’s twitchy fingers in Voyager book. Actually, his tapping fingers appear in most of Diana’s books:  

I caught a quick glance passing between Ian and Jenny; and a longer stare, unreadable, exchanged between Jenny and Jamie. A stranger here in more ways than one, I kept my own eyes cast down, observing under the shelter of my lashes. Jamie sat to my left; I could feel the tiny movement between us as the two stiff fingers of his right hand drummed their small tattoo against his thigh.

See Big Red flutter his index finger in Starz episode 308, First Wife. Kebbie-lebbie at Lallybroch!

The deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

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Photo credits: Sony/Starz

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Fun Fact: Melanin 

Anatomy Def: Melanin is a group of natural pigments found in animal skin, eyes, hair, feathers, scales or ink (the cephalopods). 

Outlander Def: That man – That hair! ‘Nuf said!

“Am I to wait all day?” 

As Jamie carefully cleans a horse’s hoof, Lords Ellesmere, spews rancor at the groom slowness. Adequate cleaning takes time –  the lad has a great work ethic.  Jamie, not Ellesmere! <G>

Ellesmere pouts and spouts:

“My god! If a child of mine had hair that color, I’d drown him before he drew a second breath.” 

Truer words! In a few short months, his Lordship very nearly slays his newborn son – a babe festooned with sprouts of golden-ginger hair!!!

Learn about melanin in Anatomy Lesson 6: Claire’s Hair – Jamie’s Mane or JHRC!

Melanin is the pigment of human skin, irises, hair and neurons. Three types are known: 

  • eumelanin  – brown, black pigment –  most common type
  • pheomelanin – golden yellow, red pigment –  the type in Jamie’s hair 
  • neuromelanin  – dark pigment – of some neurons, function unknown

Ergo, Jamie’s red hair receives its color by virtue of pheomelanin, a chemical variant of melanin! 

Less than 2% of the world’s population have red hair. More to the point, Scotland and Ireland enjoy the highest percentages of natural ginger heads in the world!

Read about Jamie’s hair in Voyager book. Clever Claire reflects on Jamie’s preparations for the governor’s ball in Jamaica. she quotes from a classic English scholar and poet:

“Oh who is that young sinner with the handcuffs on his wrists?

And what has he been after that they groan and shake their fists?

And wherefore is he wearing such a conscience-stricken air?

Oh they’re taking him to prison for the colour of his hair.”

Jamie put down the wig in his hand and raised one eyebrow at me in the mirror. I grinned at him and went on, declaiming with gestures:

“ ’Tis a shame to human nature, such a head of hair as his;

In the good old time ’twas hanging for the colour that it is;

Though hanging isn’t bad enough and flaying would be fair

For the nameless and abominable colour of his hair!”

“Did ye not tell me ye’d studied for a doctor, Sassenach?” he inquired. “Or was it a poet, after all?”

“Not me,” I assured him, coming to straighten his stock. “Those sentiments are by one A. E. Housman.”

Housman’s entire poem can be read here: https://www.poemtree.com/poems/OhWhoIsThat.htm  

See Ellesmere’s reprehensible behavior regarding the “abominable” color of Jamie’s hair in Outlander episode 304, Of Lost Things. At least, Lady Isobel seems displeased with the chortling auld men. Braw lassie!

The deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

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Photo Credits: Sony/Starz