Tag: muscle

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Fun Fact: Vastus medialis

vastus-medialis

Anatomy def: vastus medialis, the most medial of four muscles constituting the quadraceps femoris muscle of anterior thigh.

Outlander def: long awaited, verra fine thigh muscle of Dougal MacKenzie, War Chieftain of Clan MacKenzie!

Learn about the vastus medialis and quadraceps femoris muscles in Anatomy Lesson #7 “Jamie’s Thighs” or “Ode to Joy!”

Read about Jamie’s thigh muscles in Dragonfly in Amber book (alas, couldn’a find a Dougal quote):

I scooped out a good bit of the salve and spread it down the long muscle of the thigh, pushing Jamie’s kilt above his hip to keep out of the way. The flesh of his leg was warm; not the heat of infection, only the normal heat of a young male body, flushed with exercise and the glowing pulse of health. I massaged the cream gently into the skin, feeling the swell of the hard muscle, probing the divisions of quadriceps and hamstring. Jamie made a small grunting sound as I rubbed harder.

See Dougal’s kilt-kick showing a fierce and fine vastus medialis muscle in Starz episode 209, Je Suis Prest. Thank ye verra much, Dougal!

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