Tag: outlander anatomy fun facts

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Fun Fact: Os Frontale

Anatomy Def: Os frontale/frontal bone is a skull bone which forms the forehead and the roofs of eye sockets and of nasal cavities.

Outlander Def: Saucy, scary Geillis haunts Ian at Hayes’ graveside! Her clear, high forehead follows her gaze as she basks in a font of goats’ blood. Run, Ian, Run!!!

Learn about frontal bones in Anatomy #60, Let’s Mull the Skull!

The human skull contains 22 bones (six ear ossicles not included in the count). Many anatomists consider the frontal bone a keystone skull bone because it articulates with a whopping 12 other bones of the skull!

Fun Fact: At birth we have two frontal bones separated by a frontal suture which typically ossifies into one frontal bone around eight years of age. Some humans retain two frontal bones throughout life, a state consistent with most vertebrates, wherein paired frontal bones do not fuse into a single frontal bone.

Try this: Gently rub two fingers across the skin of forehead. Do you feel a slight ridge? if so, this is the remnant of the suture between the paired frontal bones.

Read about foreheads throughout all of Diana’s big books.  This passage from Drums of Autumn compares Brianna’s forehead with that of her paternal grandmother, Ellen MacKenzie, as Bree and Jenny view her Lallybroch portrait:

Ellen MacKenzie looked out at her now as she had then; long-necked and regal, slanted eyes showing a humor that did not quite touch the tender mouth. It wasn’t a mirror image, by any means; Ellen’s forehead was high, narrower than Brianna’s, and the chin was round, not pointed, her whole face somewhat softer and less bold in its features.

But the resemblance was there, and pronounced enough to be startling; the wide cheekbones and lush red hair were the same. And around her neck was the string of pearls, gold roundels bright in the soft spring sun.

See Geillis high forehead as she prepares to rise from her ablution of blood in Starz episode 401, America the Beautiful.  (I figure it would require blood from about 250 milk goats to fill that font!)

A deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

Photo credit: Starz

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Fun Fact: Scalene

Anatomy Def:  The scalene are three muscles of each side of the neck: anterior, middle and posterior scalenes. 

Outlander Def: Neck muscles grip at the sight of a stone long dispatched to a galaxy far, far way away! How did it get around Claire’s neck?

Learn about the scalene muscles in Anatomy Lesson #12, “Claire’s Neck” or “The Ivory Tower.”  

In Greek, scalene means “uneven” because each muscle is different in length. Anterior and middle scalene muscles lift the first rib and tilt the head to the same side. Posterior scalene lifts the second rib and tilts the head to the same side. Ergo, right scalenes tilt head to the right – left scalenes, to the left. Scalenes are classified as (secondary) muscles of respiration because lifting the ribs expands the rib cage.

The artery (subclavian) and nerves (brachial plexus) to the upper limb pass between anterior and middle scalene muscles. Muscular compression of these structures can contribute to thoracic outlet syndrome, wherein the sufferer experiences some combination of pain, tingling, weakness, paleness, and/or coldness of the upper limb.

Also, the scalene area may be targeted for regional anesthesia. A nerve block to this area is the interscalene block and may be performed prior to arm or shoulder surgery

Read about the neck in Drums of Autumn. Herself describes loads of neck stuff therein. Jamie’s teeth are mighty close to the scalene muscles in this, ahem, yummy scenario:

“He narrowed one eye and squinted dubiously at me. Then he reached up, took me delicately by the ear, and drew my head down, turning my face to the side. He flicked his tongue gently at the base of my throat, then lifted his head and set his teeth very softly in the tender flesh at the side of my neck.”

See Wahkatiiosta’s right anterior scalene muscle (red arrow) as she recognizes Otter Tooth’s necklace in Starz ep 413, A Man of Worth! Her anterior scalene is clearly visible because her neck is lean with little subcutaneous adipose (fat) tissue. 

A deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

Photo credit: Starz

 

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Fun Fact: Palmar Aponeurosis

 

Anatomy def: Fan-shaped sheet of dense fibrous tissue beneath skin of palm. Fibers flare from apex at wrist to bases of the four fingers. 

Outlander Def: Tough layer of Claire’s trembling palm as it cups two rings: Frank’s gold and Jamie’s silver.  My precious! Gah!

Learn about the palmar aponeurosis in Anatomy Lesson #23, Harming Hands – Helping Hands – Healing Hands.

Palmar aponeurosis, also known as palmar fascia, is anatomically complex consisting of a sheet of connective fibers that converge near the distal wrist crease and radiate to the bases of the fingers (see below figure). It attaches to muscles, ligaments, digital sheaths and a forearm tendon (palmaris longus).

Function of palmar aponeurosis is mechanical. It firmly attach­es to the palmar skin allowing it to:

  • cup
  • improve the grip
  • protect underlying tendons and muscles

Slow thickening and shortening of  the palmar aponeurosis is a condition known as Dupuytren’s Contracture. It is more common in folks with Northern European ancestry.

Try this: Bring flexed (bent) fingers and thumb towards each other to form a cup in palm of hand. Tense the hand and tap the palm with fingers of the opposite hand.  It should feel tense and tight. This is the palmar aponeurosis. Good job!

Read about Steven Bonnet’s attack on the Frasers in Herself’s fourth big book, Drums of Autumn. The palmar aponeurosis helps Claire cradle those precious rings in the palm of her hand:

I twisted my gold ring off, hands trembling both with fear and rage. The silver one was harder; it stuck on my knuckle as though reluctant to part from me. Both rings were damp and slippery with sweat, the metal warmer than my suddenly chilled fingers.

“Give ’em up.” The man poked me roughly in the shoulder, then turned up a broad, grubby palm for the rings. I reached toward him, reluctantly, rings cupped in my hand—and then, with an impulse I didn’t stop to examine, clapped my hand to my mouth instead.

See Claire’s  moment of decision in Outlander episode 401, America the Beautiful:  to swallow or not to swallow, that is the question? Swallow, lass!

The deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

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Photo Credits: Sony/Starz; Cunningham’s Textbook of Anatomy, William Wood & Company, 1914.