Tag: Outlander episode 311

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2022 Seattle Adventure – Outlandish Vancouver

Greetings, all Outlander fans! I just returned from a three-day event (January 21-23), at Doubletree by Hilton Seattle Airport Hotel. Buckle up! This is a looong post!

This was the long-awaited 2022 Seattle Adventure (OVSA) sponsored by Outlandish Vancouver,  an event that typically occurs every October in Surrey, B. C., but sadly was postponed due to COVID.

Just so you know, all attendees were required to be fully vaccinated, boosted, and show a negative COVID test within 48 hours of check-in. Fortunately, my roomies and I were good to go!

It loomed large for us three roommates arriving from Oregon, Hawai’i and Washington, respectively!  Jody KC (O’ahu) and I were first to arrive.

My new acquaintance, but a friend of Jody’s, nurse Ally, joined us the next day!

Before the event even started, guest Steven Cree shared this clever video on Instagram. And, this was just the beginning of his wry wit displayed at the event!

Friday afternoon, we headed for the registration desk. Volunteers woman-ed the tables so registration was swift and efficient.

Soon, we walked away with lanyards, badges, and tickets for photos and autographs.  

Barely got into the common room before this bad dude tried to steal my badge! Arrgh, matey!

We were reminded by Jamie and Dr. Claire to be careful of GERRRRRMMS, to wear our masks, to keep our hands clean, and to social distance where possible. But, dirty minds??? …. No problemo! 

A lovely Vendor Row was open with Outlander-themed items for sale!

NOTE: Jody, Ally, and I pooled our memories, pen and paper notes, and nimble fingers working virtual keyboards to recreate the five panel discussions that follow.  Hence, our “transcripts” are rough approximations of cast comments. Only the items in quotes are exact. Videotaping or audio recordings were strictly forboden at OVSA! 🚫

First Panel – Friday Evening

 Koko Pipkin, the brains and force behind OV, was first to take the stage.

Koko introduced all seven cast members to a rousing ovation: David Berry (DB), Lauren Lyle (LL), Cesar Domboy (CD), Duncan Lacroix (DL), Sophie Skelton (SS), Richard Rankin (RR), and Steven Cree (SC).

The cast took their seats, set up in groups of 2, 3, and 2. But, Steven moved off to the side like he was hosting, AND TOOK OVER!!  He didn’t dominate, though. Rather, he graciously asked each actor for their name.

He commented on how CD managed to look cool 😎 no matter what or where (Cesar wore shades – it was nighttime and indoors!). Yep, he is cool!

WARNING:

The audience was enthralled!

Steven served as fairly raunchy host so please bear that in mind before reading the following compilations of five different panels!

Steven kept the ball rolling and was nearly a one-man comedy show. He asked the cast for favorite things:                                                                                                     RR: Richard loved the 2021 documentary “The Beatles: Get Back,”  produced and directed by Peter Jackson.                                                                                                       SC: Ten-year-old Steven saw Ted Neeley in the lead role of Jesus Christ Super Star in West End London. He instantly fell in love with theater! He was fascinated by Jesus and his story. “The epic-ness. I have seen the movie over 100 times!”                                                                                                                                      DL: “A man gets lonely in the Highlands.” We had no idea what Duncan meant! 🤷🏻‍♀️

Audience questions were invited, fans lined up behind the microphone, and there were some good queries!

Q: What celebrities would you pay money to meet?                                                  DL: Graham McTavish offering to buy a round of drinks.                                               SC: Ted Neeley the star of JCSS.  “He was hung… Jesus.” 😳                                DB: “Harry Connick, Jr.”                                                                                                               LL:  Best concert ever was Justin Bieber.

Q: Fav slang word or phrase:                                                                                                                        DL: “Orango” (referring to someone being an orangutan)                                      SC: “Go take a flying fuck into a rolling donut,” “bolt yer rocket,” “tata subunit,” “your arse and parsley,” and “piss off!”

Q What kind of animal living or dead would you want as a pet?                          DL: “Rat.”                                                                                                                                           LL: “Woolly mammoth.”                                                                                                           SC: “Cross between a shark and angry chimp.” 🤪

Q: What celebrity would you like to meet in person?                                                   SS: “Taylor Swift.”                                                                                                                         LL: “Jesus.”                                                                                                                                             DL: “I saw AC-DC at 12 y. o. Big impact!” (That wasn’t the question, Duncan!)😜

Q: Does costuming help and how does it influence performances?                                                                                                       LL & SS: Corsets suck! They cause chafing, sore ribs and hips, and bruising. And, it is hard to eat wearing a corset!

Q: Will we see Laura Donnelly (Jenny) in coming seasons?                                                   LL: Laura  will be coming back! What??? The audience went wild and then, it turns out, Lauren was joking! 😬 But, the cast all agreed that Laura’s return as Jenny is unlikely.  😢                                                                                                             SC: He met a lovely attendant on his flight over and had a nice chat. Next day, met same flight attendant at Pike Street Market in Seattle! “Incredible!”

Q: Fav leisure activities during COVID?                                                                                                SS: Long walks. Laura and Sophie then bantered about long walks – more than an hour? Less than an hour? It remains a bit obscure.                                                                                                                              CD: Playstation! He considers himself to be a master chiller.                                LL: Loves working with Cesar. They were on the phone or FT daily during lockdown. (They truly do enjoy a warm and wonderful friendship, like brother and sister!)                                                                                                                                       CD: He and LL like the same food and eat off each other’s plates.                    RR: Likes Sophie’s laugh!

Q: Fav music:                                                                                                                                     LL: Loves the S6 Outlander trailer music and any funky-pop-sync music.                                                                                                                        CD: Anything that sounds like melted cheddar to his ears.   😆                         (Someone liked Jim Morrison in leather pants but I didn’t catch who. Sorry!)                                                                                                             SS: American country music                                                                                                     RR: Beatles and John Williams (Quite a range!)                                                               SC: Beatles and musical theater. Steven claimed he “feels music through his bones and out his ass, but that might have been Sam Heughan’s finger!” (I warned ya!) 😮                                                                                                                              DB: Classical to jazz, all genre.  

Saturday morning was devoted to photos with cast members. This is my favorite! 🥰

Many members of My Peak Challenge, known as Peakers, attended the conference. This is Sam Heughan’s training program. Later that day, we gathered for a group photo. All devoted to healthier living, exercise, and community!

Next Panel – Saturday afternoon:  DB, DL & SC

Another Q and A session, and believe me, there was no paucity of questions. The fans came prepared! After introducing the guys, SC said we were going to start off with Koko stripping! (Puir Koko –  she was such a good sport!)

Q: What was Murtagh thinking when Jocasta threw the glass of whisky in his face (ep 413, Man of Worth)? Please be specific!                                                                                                           DL: Murtagh got tingly all over from head to toes and there WILL be something done about it!                                                                                                                                             (Pssst…..There WAS something done about it!)

Q: Will there be a LJG spin-off?                                                                                            DB: I cannot talk about it. I cannot say. (Hmmmm….. 🤔)                                         SC: You can see it at pornhub.com!

Q: Any line flubs?                                                                                                                            SC: Steven was waiting for the director to call “cut” after finishing a scene with Cait (ep 112, Lallybroch), but no one yelled “cut” so the cameras kept rolling. Steven was uncomfortable so he grabbed a head of cabbage off the table, handed it to Cait, and said: “Stuffed cabbage, Claire?” His clever ad lib made it into the show.  Check it out! 

Q: David, what happened with Lieutenant Leonard (Charlie Heitt, ep 313, Eye of the Storm)? Leonard was the de facto Captain of the Porpoise but Lord John addressed him as Lieutenant Leonard.                                                                                                                   DB: In the confrontation between LJG and Captain Leonard over whose power was paramount, David accidentally called him “Lieutenant” Leonard.  This lucky slip-of-the-tongue was kept  because it came off as intentionally putting Leonard in his place. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Q: What do all of you think of the way slavery was depicted in Outlander?                                                                                                              DL: Duncan said he was uncomfortable with the way slavery was filmed and would have preferred if modern sensibilities had been added to the show. 

Q: How did you cope with Outlander?                                                                               DB: “Lots of alcohol!”                                                                                                                 SC: “All actors are insecure and want approval.”  He prefers getting compliments much more than “You are a f**king shit!” And, flying from one continent to another is not a hardship.                                                                                DB: Hard to take so much attention. We may need it but it is also difficult.                                                                                                                    SC: Graham likes being on a pedestal. (What???)

Q: What are you afraid of?                                                                                                         DL: Water and diving lessons. “I am a – what you call it? Aquaphobe? Aquaphobic? I would overcome it if it were for a role.” (fear of water is aqua-phobia).                                                                                                                                             SC: Sex scenes and horses. “Sex scenes are hard!” He told us “Outlaw King really taught me to respect horses. I’m like how is this gonna go?” He was referencing an epic scene involving horses, riders, and trees. A stunt rider fell off his horse and got dragged, and had to be air-lifted off set and replaced by another actor. Steven was scared he’d get hurt.                                                   DB: People who think you are competent in an area just because in a show you acted it! 😯

Q: Most awkward scene?                                                                                                        DL: Sex scenes with Jocasta. He thought he would be on top. <G> “Keep moving” the director said. “Hope you enjoyed it , Jo. I know you are blind, but!”  😱                                                                                                                                                DB: Sex scene with someone you had never met before (ep 411 – If Not for Hope). This was the pantry sex scene wherein the director asked them to “settle it down,” they were making too much noise! 

Q: David, will you bring back the podcast with Tim Downey?                                        DB: No. They are done.

Next Panel –  Saturday afternoon: Lauren & Cesar

The cheerful cuties came on the stage and we began another round of questions. This excellent format really engaged the audience and encouraged participation! Everyone seemed to love it! 

(Psst…the photographer looks as if he is praying at the altar of Fersali!)

Q: Which scenes were ridiculously hard to film?                                                          LL & CD: The locust scene (ep 506, Better to Marry than Burn). It was all CGI and we had to shout “locusts” and beat the air with rags when nothing was actually there!                                                                                                                               CD: An intimate moment giving birth in S6. Which wasn’t awkward at all.                                                                                                       LL: In S3, the boats were on rockers. Director would shout “wave!” They were supposed to scream and throw up hands as crew threw water on them. It felt ridiculous.

Q: What is the strangest thing you have been asked to autograph?                                                                                                             CD: “Wooden hands.”  😁                                                                                                             LL: “Pictures of cats.” ( Apparently, lots of fans have named their cats, Marsali!)

Q: What do you look for in a new city?                                                                             CD: Brunch places, good food.                                                                                               LL: Coffee – at Pikes Place Market, Starbucks on every corner, good burgers.

Q: How did you prepare for the birth scene in S6.                                                            LL: They haven’t really shown Marsali giving birth before. Maybe another baby is born and maybe it comes from me.  We just look at each other and a baby appears. Actually, Lauren did a lot of research. Came across one 18th C. corset for nursing that had little wooden doors over the nipples – “ wooden doors for wooden hands.” 😅                                                                                                         CD: In S6 there is an intimate moment where Marsali is giving birth and Fergus is there. They had an intimacy coach for the scene. (Who knew?)

Q: If you could be a superhero, who would it be?                                                        CD: Deadpool, Star-Lord from Guardians of the Galaxy.                                              LL: Katness (Hunger Games). One of the warriors from Wonder Woman. Loki.                                                                                                                                                    CD: “Poison Ivy.” (He didn’t say if he meant himself or Lauren!)

Q: Best attributes of the characters you play:                                                                CD: Fergus is likable and has a pure heart. How he handles trauma.                                                                                                                      LL: “No one liked Marsali, but I got people to like her and not Marsali-in-the-kitchen!” She has a real bite to her, able to hold her own. Fergus and Marsali choose to stay together because they love each other.                                                                                         CD: “I followed what Romann (Berrux) did to bring the freshness to Fergus and create an interesting arc from kid to a dark character.”

Q: Where do you go in the USA for snacks?                                                                  CD: Shake Shack. Chocolate!                                                                                                     LL: Mexican food in LA. – Cesar agrees. 

Q: Why do you have such great chemistry:                                                                   CD: We were hired at the same time.                                                                                 LL: “We were lucky.” Lauren received a text that she was supposed to get on a plane and be interviewed the next day.  ”I got called to audition for Marsali with two other girls. I was trapped in London due to a terrorist closure of the airport. The casting director called saying the other two girls were trapped in London and we should all get together.” Lauren didn’t get on well with one gal, but thought the other did well. She went into the audition with a “whatever” attitude, and did the wrong thing. She auditioned for 10 minutes and didn’t think she did well. She heard later that Matt said, “THAT is Marsali,” after she left the audition. Incoming call the next morning – she got the part! (We were lucky, too!)

Q; Fav place you have been?                                                                                                 CD: Scotland, Sahara Desert – special but rough. He got 4G in the desert!                                                                                                                       LL: Caribbean, lived in New Zealand.

Q: Jody’s question started off with a huge ALOHA. Cesar asked her about getting to Hawai’i – 5 ½ hours from Seattle – he was surprised how close! She offered to take him out if he came to the islands and he said he’d Instagram message her!!!  

(Jody on her collapsible stool! She used it for photos with cast members. She is a wee lass)

Jody told Cesar and Lauren that she did not like either Fergus or Marsali in the books. Fergus was a “sexist pig” and Marsali was mean and only had kid after kid and why didn’t she listen to Claire about birth control?                                                                                             LL: Lauren said she worked to have us love Marsali, and indeed she did/does a fabulous job. We LOVE her portrayal of Marsali.                                                                                                           CD: Buckle up in S6. Cesar said good things are coming up for Fergus in S6! Cannot wait!                                                                                                                                  CD: He loves how Americans pronounce his name: See-zer  or Say-Zar. He pronounces it Sa-sar.

Q: What type of student were you?                                                                                      LL: Too chatty on report cards. She had a mean biology teacher.                                                    CD: Left school at 16 – a child actor. Cesar was told he needed to concentrate in school!

Next Panel –  Saturday Afternoon: RR and SS

Q: Fav fun scene:                                                                                                                              SS: Anything with Jemmy (twins, Andrew and Matthew Adair, S5). She loves working with them. At the stone scene (Ep 511, Journeycake), he just wandered off!                                                                                                                                RR: Jemmy twins. Each time Jemmy reached for the tea kettle (Ep 508, Famous Last Words), Roger shouted, “no!”  He said “kids were a nightmare” and told us when he yelled at the child actor (Andrew or Matthew), “NO!” using his scarred Roger throat, it terrified Andrew who recoiled saying “Don’t ever do that to me again!“ 

(These tears look pretty real!)

Quote from The Fiery Cross (Chapter 75):

I caught a glimpse of firelight shining on the bones of [Roger’s] face, and then his expression changed in an instant, from wariness to horror. He lunged to his feet, mouth open.

“STOKH!” he roared.

SS: Sophie said Richard is only interested in two things: his camera and video games.                                                                                                                                  RR: As if on cue, Richard whipped out a couple of his prized cameras from a bag. A discussion ensued with some audience members about his cameras, lenses, etc. He brought five cameras on this trip. He carefully handed one for Sophie to hold while demonstrating and explaining the other camera; all mechanical. She did a fab job as Vanna!  He watched her like a hawk and even let her take a picture of us with his camera! He said her photo was “good.” (damning with faint praise!)                                                                                                                          SS: Sophie quickly said, “Hold it like a baby” and “Support the head!”as Richard was lecturing her on how to hold the camera and to be careful. (Like a daddy with his kid, aye?) 

Q: Fav Outlander scene:                                                                                                                RR: “I will always sing for you” from ep 508 “Famous Last Words:”

This is the quote from “The Fiery Cross:”

Roger: “Everybody wants the old Roger back. I’ll never be that man again. I studied history. I taught it. Now I’m livin’ it. When I saw that tarot card, I thought, ‘this is who I am now. A dying man.’ Maybe this was my fate. My own ancestor tried to kill me. Maybe I wasn’t meant to exist.”
Brianna: “That isn’t true.”
Roger: “Perhaps not. But I have changed. Remember when you asked me about my last words?”
Brianna: “Yeah.”
Roger: “I thought I knew what they’d be, but what mattered was the last face I saw. That face was yours.”
Brianna: “Oh, Roger.”
Roger: “I’ll always sing for you. No matter what, no matter where. Whether you’re there to hear or even if my voice isn’t able, I will always sing for you.”

Q: To SS, how did you prepare for the rape scene?                                                       SS: Sophie watched a lot of You Tube and court cases of rape. She wanted to portray her response as tonic immobility. The victim cannot fight because her body shuts down in response to the trauma. It occurs in women who feel the trauma strongly. 

Q: What other character would you like to play in the TV show?                        SS: Jamie                                                                                                                                          RR: Bonnet, Jamie and Roger (News flash – Richard, you already play Roger!)                                                                                                             SS: Rollo                                                                                                                                            RR: At which point, Richard states he f**king hates Adso. We both hate cats. Cats are dicks! 🤷🏻‍♀️

Q: What role would you like to play in another film/show?                                                                                    RR: Sophie is a “Friends” fan. She would be Monica.                                                  SS: Richard would like to play Gunther.

Q: Most awkward scene?                                                                                                           RR: Filming the last sex scene of S5, Roger lost his privacy pouch.                                                                                                                        SS: Similar to a “nip-slip.” The camera man got right in between them during the filming.  Very intrusive!                                                                                                                                     RR: Richard said to the crew, “Sorry you had to see that.”

Q: How did you prep for the birth scene (ep 413, Man of Worth)?                                                                           SS: She watched many videos of births. Most shows have the woman screaming but she heard low, animalistic sounds during childbirth videos. She was very interested in the birthing chair. One crew member told her she was sitting in it wrong – she needed to squat on it and face the back. Sophie said “Thank you for mansplaining to me how to give birth!” Major applause from the audience!

Q: We see your big beautiful dog on SM:                                                                          RR: “I am right here!” 😁                                                                                                              SS: His name is Luca. He is 10 months old and 6’3” tall. Roger’s dog is Gonzo. During lockdown, Sophie took Luca and some friends to Richard’s house. She tried to get Luca to poop many times before the visit but no luck. Once inside, Luca pooped on Richard’s beautiful new multicolored, high-end carpet. The carpet has designs, but Luca went right on a white area! Her friend tried to clean it up but it just got worse. The cleanser contained bleach and soon it was apparent the carpet was Chlorox-ed. Sophie said: “Bye, we need to go!” Richard is silent. 🤐

Next Panel –  Saturday Afternoon: RR, SC, DB, DL

These lads were in fine fettle! First question?

Q: Meet our mascot known as “Murtagh’s dildo.” (It is an ear of corn in an “upright” posture) …Will we get to hear Roger sing the corn grinding song in S6? 

SC: WTF? 😂

Q: Which other Outlander character would you like to play?                                 SC: BJR so he can do episodes 115 and 116 with Sam!                                                              DL: “Mark me!” Yep, he wants to play the Bonny Prince!                                         DB: “Ian.”                                                                                                                                              RR: DB would play a great Brianna!                                                                                       SC: People are complaining that Claire and Jamie aren’t shagging enough! (Steven was basically a stream of consciousness 😜)

Q: Not really a question but a comment praising SC for his work on men’s mental health. 👍🏻

Q: What nice thing happened on set?                                                                                DL: “No one has ever said anything nice to me.” 🥺                                                  DB: Carol Ann (Crawford), the dialect coach, helped David learn a lot of new lines quickly. She worked with him late into the night so he would be ready for filming.                                                                                                                                         DL: I didn’t know she offered those services!                                                                 SC: Carol Ann has no idea she is being implicated in a sex scandal right now! (David shakes his head – “Can’t say anything nice.”)

Q: How were you as a student?                                                                                            SC: Flew f-bombs all the time. When he was 10 y. o., a girl asked to get moved from his school table because he swore too much!                                                     DL: Went to a boy’s trade school that was rough. He faded into the background to survive.  😨                                                                                                        DB: Never got into trouble. Spent time doing music.                                                  SC: “Boo!”                                                                                                                                        RR: At school, a four y. o. a girl asked him to stick his head under her skirt. He did and got into terrible trouble. Also, suspended for smashing a window. Always in trouble. 

Q: Which actor would you like to work with:                                                                 RR: Graham McTavish                                                                                                               DL: John Sessions, who played Arthur Duncan, Geillis’ husband the pre-factor fiscal of Crainesmuir.                                                                                                  SC: Tobiahs Menzes                                                                                                                  RR: Steven Cree, Tobiahs Menzes                                                                                         SC: “Everyone wants to play Jamie. He’s so wonderful. Blah, Blah: Eyes, arse, cock!” 😆

Q: How do you prepare for combat scenes?                                                                     DL: Beheading the Duke of Sandringham (ep 312, The Hail Mary) took some preparation to get it right. Simon Callow was terrified. After the scene was over, Simon told the director, “Sam is a gentleman but that Duncan is a psychopath!” 🪓🩸

Q: How have things at Outlander evolved behind the scenes?                                                       DB: Feels bad he wasn’t in S1 because the fans are so nostalgic for it.                                                                                                                           SC: “F**king wonderful, a well-oiled machine!”                                                               RR: More efficient. Size and scale of all sets from S1 to present. All preserved and stored. Huge wardrobe department and armory. 

Fan Comment: “David, thank you for portraying LJG with such sensitivity.”                                                                                                                                    DB: It was tough to accept a part as a gay man because it was a big risk, but societal attitudes have changed. David tries to move the character in a slightly different direction so sexuality doesn’t define LJ – he tries to give LJ dimensions beyond his gayness to create a full human being.

Q: Did you have previous careers?                                                                                     DL: Plenty of jobs; hundreds of jobs in factories, cleaning roadways, etc.                                                                                                       DB: A journalist.                                                                                                                            SC: Many jobs, worked in bars and restaurants and stuffed envelopes: he was a good letter licker! Wink, followed by a pregnant pause…. (Cheeky wee laddie) 😆                                                                                                                                       RR: Lots of jobs. Worked in Royal Bank of Scotland. Also sold kitchens and windows by cold-calling. If people were rude, he would say, “Oh, so you don’t want the round-the-world trip and hang up. Or, “ You don’t want your new BMW?” Richard was also a bar manager, and he quite liked that job. 

Q: Favorite episode?                                                                                                                    DL: “Episode where Graham gets stabbed to death!” (ep 213, Dragonfly in Amber)

                                                                                                                                               RR: The one where Roger goes back home to Inverness and settles down with a nice girl.                                                                                                                             DB: “The first episode I was in!” (ep 303, All Debts Paid)                                        SC: “Episode one! Cunnilingus in the first 13 seconds!” They call it “downtown Frank!” 😱

Next Panel – Saturday Afternoon: CD, SS, LL

Q: Lauren, how did you prepare for the face plant (ep 511, Journeycake)? It looked so realistic!                                                                                                                      LL: At first a stunt woman was assigned to do the face plant, but Lauren decided she wanted to do it. The brick floor was replaced with a padded surface that only looked like a brick floor. She fell from a kneeling position. The first time hurt despite the padding. Then the stunt woman suggested Lauren let her shoulder take the impact, and that did the trick!

Yep, that was Lauren! 👍🏻

Q: Will we see Loughaire again?                                                                                               LL: Would love to work with Nell (Hudson) again. She only worked with her in one episode (ep 308, First Wife). No one knew if she will be back. Book readers know! Wink, wink. 🤞🏻

Q: Where will the S6 premier be held?                                                                          Dead silence. No one would say.                                                                                            SS: Can you go to London? Wink, Wink, Wink!

Q: Do you like to do your own stunts?                                                                              CD: He does his own stunts and uses his wooden hand as a weapon. He did a movie about free diving. He says it was terrifying just to stay alive. They were breathing through a straw and he suffered lots of panic attacks. Cesar learned to dive for the show, and he was scared! The untitled thriller will be shown on Netflix-France.                                                                                                           LL and SS: Both want to Tom Cruise it. 

Q: New projects other than Outlander?                                                                              LL: Plays a detective in Karen Pririe, a series out this fall. She takes on a cold case of a murdered bar maid (ITV).                                                                                    CD: SAS Rogue Heroes where Peaky Blinders meets “something”  (unintelligible) – on steroids!                                                                                                      SS: A film with Diane Keaton is next – a ballet movie.

Q: Does your family watch your Outlander performances?                                        SS: Yes, her family does watch, but not her friends.                                                 CD: His friends are disappointed in his choices. He asks Lauren to watch his performance and tell him how he did, “I’m too scared!” He doesn’t like to watch himself after doing his roles.                                                                                      SS: Richard does the same thing –  “You just watch them for us.”                          LL: Friends don’t watch the show. Her 90 y. o. grandpa read the books but said “There are things I have to pass over.” (He has since passed)                                                                                                         SS: Sophie was staying at her brother’s house and the neighbors showed films (including Outlander) outside on a huge garden wall. Her sister-in-law told Sophie to distract her brother not to look out the window – they were showing her sex scene with Richard.

Q: Favorite and least favorite set:                                                                                            LL: Hated Wilmington because it was wet and cold. Loved South Africa!                                                                                                                        CD: Loved their wedding scene (ep 311, Uncharted).

Cesar also shared that when he and Richard rode into Brownsville, the “mud movers” had made the road muddy. They were supposed to get off their horses as if heading to kick ass but were slipping all over the place.  So instead of manly marching down the street, they had to take baby steps so as not to slip. In Cesar’s lilting French accent, “ It was so hard to be cool walking down the street because we were slipping in the mud.” He demonstrated that, and it was hilarious. Also, Richard fell getting off his horse!

Q: Have you taken anything from the set?                                                                          LL: I have the wedding ring. She also wants a pot or crockery from their new cabin (!) in S6.                                                                                                                                CD: Hard to take anything. The crew is on it!                                                                     SS: “I almost took the pearls!”

Q: How was it to work at night on episode 512, Never My Love?                        CD: It was like a dance. Very cold in the forest. And, you would never be in a forest at night. Super intense. High stakes. 

Q: Do they send assessment emails after filming?                                                              SS: Yes, we get emails about what we can and cannot say. Publicists are clear about our talking points. 

Closing Panel – Sunday: RR, SC, DL, SS, LL, CD, DB

They all seemed pretty weary, which is why Steven might have quipped:

SC: Are you sick of us yet? Safe to say, “you can go fuck yourselves!”                                                                                                            SS: “You guys rock.”                                                                                                                     RR: “What happens in Seattle……”                                                                                          DL: “Absolutely amazing. Duncan is going to have a long, very intimate adventure in the fog,” (very foggy out).                                                                               SS: “Thanks to all of you!”                                                                                                            RR: “Thanks!”

Q: How has your life changed during COVID?                                                               RR: More drinking home alone. Gonzo (his dog) drank with me.                              SC: Raised more money for “Cash for Kids” and “masturbating!”  What???                                                                                                                    LL: Long evening walks to clear my head.                                                                          CD: Play Station, drinking alone, and more gym work.                                                   DB: Getting to know his 5 y. o. better. They threw a lot of tantrums together.

Q: What is your fav body of work?                                                                                       RR: Black Watch; Philomont                                                                                                          SC: Cabaret in 2007, West End in London, and The Little Princess                            DL: “One man underneath the Lintel.” Seen by five people!   (Duncan might have meant “Underneath the Lintel?”)                                                                                             LL: Karen Pririe!                                                                                                                              CD: His first film at 13 y. o. “My favorite show I’ve ever acted in was my first because my mom was so proud of me.”                                                                                                        DB: His fav is the one yet to come. He loves the freshness. 

Just two questions and then it was over! And, just like that, they bid us farewell! 👋🏻

An hour or so later, I hopped into my trusty Subaru, and headed for Oregon. It was a beautiful day and Mt. Hood looked spectacular!

Big hugs to my gal-pals who helped so much! 🤗

The deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist 

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Photo Credits: Starz, Tom Cook, Jo KC, Ally Nisbet, Kristine Wilcox, Outlander Anatomy

 

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Anatomy Lesson #60 Let’s Mull the Skull!

Greeting anatomy students, everywhere!  Today’s lesson will examine the marvelous, mystical human skull.

Our first lesson about the skeleton was waaay back in Anatomy Lesson #39, Dem Bones – Human Skeleton, but that discussion was pretty general in nature, whereas, the skull alone is quite specific. We do not have sufficient space to cover all details about the skull, so highlights must do.

First, well-earned homage to our fav author, Diana Gabaldon, who wrote this about her life, pre-Outlander: 

From the late ’70s to the early ’90s, I wrote anything anybody would pay me for. This ranged from articles on how to clean a longhorn cow’s skull for living-room decoration to manuals on elementary math instruction on the Apple II… to a slew of software reviews and application articles done for the computer press. 

Long-horn skulls? Yep. She’s been into head bones for a very long time. 😉

You might not recall, but Outlander has some great scenes involving skulls, so let’s get going!

Beginning with Starz ep 101, Sassenach, a mess of skull stuff happens. Murtagh smartly raps Claire’s skull with his dirk hilt to quiet her. Sorry lass, Redcoats everywhere! And, there’s even more skull stuff:

  • Ep 104, The Gathering, Claire wallops Dougal over the heid with a chair
  • Ep 104, The Gathering, Rupert whacks Jamie on the skull with his dirk. 
  • Ep 104, The Gathering, Rupert whacks Jamie on the skull with his fists! (Ep 104 was mighty rough!)
  • Ep 108, Both Sides Now, Frank, related to Black Jack, beats thugs’ skulls with his own blackjack! 
  • Ep 109, The Reckoning, Murtagh thunks a guard on the skull at Fort William.
  • Ep 204, La Dame Blanche, Murtagh gets a taste of his own medicine from a secret Paris society bent on violating virgins. Skull dunt!
  • Ep 211, Vengeance is Mine, Murtagh separates Duke S. from his skull. Weil, he was asking for it!
  • Ep 305, Whisky and Freedom, Dr. Abernathy fondles a pretty lady’s skull in his office. Claire assists. <G>
  • Ep 307, Creme de Menthe, With help from Claire’s knife, an excise man’s skull strikes stone!
  • Ep 308, First Wife, young Ian is bonked over the heid by pirates!
  • Ep 311, Uncharted, Dermestid beetles clean Arabella’s skull!
  • Ep 312, Eye of the Storm, Claire relieves Mrs. Abernathy’s body of the weight of her skull! 

Doubtless, I have missed a few. Help me out here, anatomy students!

Update! A student reminded me of the cave scene wherein Geillis shoots Jamie in the head.  The pistol ball travels under his scalp to end up in the back of his head (occipital region). Claire removes it with a blade. The ball failed to penetrate Jamie’s skull because Geillis had failed to load the pistol with sufficient charge. Thank you, Marguerite!

This is the quote from Voyager book. Sadly, it wasn’t filmed so no image to accompany this splendid description:

… I sat Jamie down with a pan of water, to tend the damage to his head. I washed away the blood from face and hair, to find to my surprise that the ball had in fact not plowed a furrow through his scalp as I had thought. Instead, it had pierced the skin just above his hairline and—evidently—vanished into his head. There was no sign of an exit wound. Unnerved by this, I prodded his scalp with increasing agitation, until a sudden cry from the patient announced that I had discovered the bullet. There was a large, tender lump on the back of his head. The pistol ball had traveled under the skin, skimming the curve of his skull, and come to rest just over his occiput.

I usually resist descending into the macabre, but let’s introduce the skull with this tidbit. In 2016, 454 human skulls (Image A) were offered for sale on eBay with opening bids ranging from one cent to $5,500!  Sources of the skulls were unknown.  Since then, eBay has revised its policy to “ban the sale of all human body parts except hair.” Thumbs up! Without informed consent, the sale of body parts is rife with ethical issues.

As a former Director of the body donation program at my medical university, sales of human parts for non-scientific purposes were deemed unethical – a sound policy.

Image A 

Definitions: Best to begin our lesson with definitions.

The English word “skull” is likely derived from Old Norse “skulle”, whereas the Latin word cranium comes from the Greek root κρανίον (kranion). What do these words mean?

  • Skull – all bones of head including mandible (lower jaw). Teeth are not included because they are not bones.
  • Cranium ( see Image B) – all skull bones (colors) excluding the mandible (white)
    • Neurocranium – cranial bones that encase the brain
    • Viscerocranium – facial bones

Function: 

Q: Why are skulls so important?

A: Because, skulls are critical elements of the human skeleton which serve to protect the brain and house these major sensory organs:

The skull also fixes the distance between the eyes to allow for stereoscopic vision (depth perception), and positions the ears to enable us to localize direction and distance of sounds.

Image B

Pause for another deep breath of Outlander! Whisking us into the ‘little shop of horrors” run by conjurer Master Raymond (Starz, ep 204, La Dame Blanche), Claire beholds strange sights.  Filled with oddities and ancient bones, curios include the skull of a unicorn! What???? He, he. There it is, with its own shaffron (head armor) complete with a hole for the horn. Only fitting to pay respect to Scotland’s National Animal. Clever!

Back to the anatomy grind…..

Skull Development: The human skull passes through amazing transformations during development. At birth, the skull is made of 44 different bony elements and the facial skeleton is 1/7 the size of the calvaria (Image C). In other words, big head – small face.

As bony elements fuse, open areas persist; these are the fontanelles (6 of them). With further age, skull bones fuse into unmovable joints known sutures  – only the mandible retains a pair of moveable joints throughout life. Some sutures contain little islands of bone. Collectively known as wormian bones, these are inconsistent features of the human skull.

Psssst…No cause to fash about this wee skull; it is a plastic model.

Image C

Adult Skull: Once fusion is complete, the adult skull has 22 or 28 bones depending on how they are counted (anatomists differ on this): 28, if ear ossicles (Anatomy Lesson #25, If a Tree Falls – The Ear) are included in the count or 22, if they are not. And, the adult facial skeleton is 1/2 the size of the calvaria, meaning with age, facial bones grow more than cranial bones. Wormian bones are not included in a skull bone count because they are inconsistent features. Remember? Good!

Wow! Image D shows an adult skull which has been “exploded,” exposing its component bones. This view affords an appreciation of the skull and its many varied and complex parts. Such preparations are very expensive but, nonetheless, are rather common exhibits in anatomy labs. Typically, these are encased in glass and unavailable for handling because several bones are paper-thin. Look but do not touch! 

Image D

Here are the odd names of the skull bones (Image E): 

  • occipital (1) – royal blue
  • temporal  (2) – orange
  • parietal (2) –  turquoise
  • sphenoid (1) – red
  • ethmoid (1) pink
  • frontal  (1) – lime green
  • nasal (2) – lavender
  • lacrimal (2) – lavender (guess they ran out of colors?)
  • zygomatic (2) – yellow
  • maxillae (2) – purple
  • mandible (1) – dark green
  • vomer (1) – peach (part of nasal septum)
  • inferior turbinate (2)  – yellow (sides of nasal cavities)
  • palatine (2) – not shown (part of roof of mouth)

Image E

Another dram of Outlander!

Ever ponder how skulls end up so clean? Anatomical preparers typically utilize insects to do the job. Dermestid beetles are splendid at this icky task and, believe it or not, they are fastidious eaters because they prefer to dine only on carrion! These beasties can even be purchased on line. Or, if beetles don’t suit you, hydrogen peroxide and baking soda are home remedies for an animal skull which demands a thorough cleaning.

Therefore, Outlander accurately depicts Father Fogden using beetles to clean and preserve beloved Arabella’s skull (Starz episode 311, Uncharted). Talk about gross anatomy. Total yuck!!!

If you really wish to see the process in a scientific setting, this is a good YouTube video. But, I advise you to skip, if you are squeamish.

Neurocranium: A few tidbits about the neurocranium. This part of the skull is commonly known as the braincase because it forms a bony hollow housing the brain (Image F). It is composed of all skull bones except mandible and facial bones. It is like a rounded cubical with ceiling, floor, front, back and sides. The shape is a perfect fit providing solid support for soft brain tissue. Got it? Yay!

Image F

Flat Bones: Bones of the neurocranium come in weird shapes. Some, such as frontal, parietal and part of temporal are thin, flat bones. Flat bones are fascinating because they are curved (go figure, <g>) with outer and inner layers of compact bone sandwiching a core of spongy bone. In image G, the top layer of dense bone is the outer surface, adjacent to the scalp; the bottom layer is closest to the brain. Each compact bony layer is known as a table, so there are outer and inner tables. The spongy core, known as diploe, isn’t spongy at all (go figure, <G>). But, it sure looks spongy. Rather, diploe is a delicate network of bone riddled with holes. In life, the holes aren’t empty; they are filled with blood vessels, developing blood cells and fat cells. Hence, the term “fat heid.” Ha, ha – just kidding! 

Image G 

Foramina: Another interesting feature –  the skull is full of holes (Image H)! Known as foramina (sing. foramen), the holes traverse the skull from outside in or inside out depending on your point of view.  Such openings vary from pinpoint size to the largest, the foramen magnum (2.5 – 3.4 cm), at the skull base.

Foramina are ports for the passage of blood vessels and nerves between inside and outside the skull. Foramen magnum is traversed by the spinal cord as it descends to enter the vertebral canal (Anatomy Lesson #10, Jamie’s Back or Aye, Jamie’s Back!).

Try This: Bring palms together with thumbs extended toward the face. Place thumb pads against the eyebrows and move the pads back and forth a bit. They should settle into a pair of divots or depressions. These are the supraorbital notches/foramina through which pass the supraorbital (sensory) nerves. You have just demonstrated the method by which these nerves leave the skull and reach the face. Hurrah!

. 

Superior view of the cranial base

Image H 

Meningeal Arteries: The brain, nestled inside the neurocranium, is surrounded by three layers of membranes, the meninges. The outermost meninx (sing.), known as dura mater (Latin meaning tough mother), contains several meningeal arteries which supply blood to the dura and adjacent skull. Scroll back to Image H and locate grooves on the inner surface of the bottom table. These imprints are caused by meningeal arteries pressing into the bone.

One such vessel is the middle meningeal artery. This important artery is located deep to the temple region where four neurocranial bones meet at the pterion (Image I).  Here, the bones are very thin.

Now, because the brain is encased in bone, one might expected it to be impervious to harm, but if so, one would be wrong.  A blow, fall or other accident (such as a golf ball to the temple) can burst the middle meningeal artery causing blood to accumulate between the dura and inner bony table, an injury known as an epidural hematoma (a clot between skull and dura mater). The accumulation of blood puts pressure on the brain and interferes with neural function. 

This type of brain injury is usually accompanied by loss of consciousness, brief regaining of consciousness, followed by another loss of consciousness. Confusion is typical; bleeding from the ear may occur. Treatment requires immediate surgery, a craniotomy. Without treatment, death typically ensues.

So, can you surmise where this lesson is headed? Of course you can!

Image I 

OK, now let’s see how anatomy applies to Outlander!

Incise the Excise Man: John Barton, a nasty tax man working for the corrupt Sir Percival, attacks Claire in Jamie’s brothel-nest (Starz ep 307, Creme de Menthe). During his battle with Dr. Dura Mater, she stabs his leg and he falls striking his left temple on the stone hearth. Blood drains from his left ear and Claire (sans modern imaging techniques) quickly diagnosis an epidural hematoma! 

Soon, she acquires a trephine (barber surgeons in Edinburgh would likely have these), in essence, a hand drill. She incises the skin over John’s left temple, positions the trephine and proceeds to drill for oil!

Now, drilling through skull bones of the pterion region means the bit must pass through outer table, diploe and inner table of said bones. The good Doctor detects a slight give as the drill completes the traverse. Then, (and, this was thrilling to me!) Claire correctly backs the drill out by reversing direction of the drill handle and voila, a burr hole! What a braw lassie! 

Now, blood can drain from the injury giving  John a chance at survival. Unfortunately, or fortunately if you belong to team Jamie, he does not. He would surely have died without the surgery, but he died with it, anyway. Warrior Claire fought valiantly for her patient in her own battle joined, but to no avail.

Understand that trephination/trepanation is not a new surgical technique as burr holes been found in prehistoric human remains. In ancient times, holes were drilled into a person’s skull, it is thought, to release evil spirits. BJR surely could have used one! Or how about Geillis?

So, armed with the science of anatomy, we now understand the nitty gritty of what took John Barton’s life!  Don’t you feel ever so much wiser? 

Today, a craniotomy is performed to release the pressure from an epidural hematoma and other types of brain injuries. Although more sophisticated, it works similarly to a trephination. In an abbreviated explanation, 3-4 burr holes are drilled through the skull and connected by saw. The piece of skull, or bone flap, is freed. The hematoma (blood clot) is usually suctioned out, the bony segment replaced and the scalp secured in place.

If you aren’t squeamish, this video shows an excellent demo of a craniotomy for epidural hematoma:

And, Claire’s version:

Now, lest you depart this lesson thinking the Outlander trepanation/trephination is a total fabrication by the series writers, it isn’t. Diana wrote about trephination in Drums of Autumn. Yes, she did. This woman leaves no stone unturned! 

Here is the quote (there is another in An Echo in the bone), but to prevent spoilers, the name of the patient is withheld and another name is blocked out, otherwise the quote is intact: 

She was thinner than he remembered, though it was hard to judge of her figure, dressed as she was in a barbaric leather shirt and trouserings. She’d plainly been in the sun and weather for some time; her face and hands had baked a delicate soft brown, that made the big golden eyes that much more startling when they turned full on one—which they now did.

“ ———-says that Dr. Fentiman trephined your skull.” He shifted uncomfortably under the sheets. “I am told that he did. I am afraid I was not aware of it at the time.” Her mouth quirked slightly. “Just as well. Would you mind if I look at it? It’s only curiosity,” she went on, with unaccustomed delicacy. “Not medical necessity. It’s only that I’ve never seen a trepanation.” He closed his eyes, giving up. “Beyond the state of my bowels, I have no secrets from you, madame.” He tilted his head, indicating the location of the hole in his head, and felt her cool fingers slide under the bandage, lifting the gauze and allowing a breath of air to soothe his hot head.

Now, let’s close this lesson with a feeling of satisfaction for knowledge gained and with an appreciation of skull art. The following three images show an intricate and creative carving of a human skull.  I do appreciate the skill although I remain ambivalent about using human skulls in this manner.  And, it is a human skull. I enlarged the images and diploe is clearly visible at some of the cut surfaces. Plastic models don’t exhibit spongy bone in their construct. 

Let’s close with the lyrics of “It’s a Lie,” by the rock band, Fiction Plane:

Underneath my face there is a human skull

Without the living flesh you’d find it pretty dull

Ah, no. With all due respect, I disagree! The skull is a fascinating part of the human anatomy. Fiction Plane guys, read the lesson! <G>

The deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

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Photo Credits: Sony/Starz; Diana Gabaldon photo, personal collection of Outlander Anatomy; www.3b.scientific.com (Image B); ewww.dreamtime.com (Image E); www.holtanatomical.com (Image C); www.kenhub.com (Image F); www.newscientist.com (Image A); www.news.psu.edu (Image G); https://rachelleeart.bigcartel.com; www.slideplayer.com (Image H); www.teachmeanatomy.com (Image I); www.thehuntnyc.com (Image D)

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Anatomy Lesson #59: Complete Feet

Hello, anatomy students! Hello feet! Today’s anatomical offering derives from the Old English fot, meaning “foot.” 

You might think Outlander has little to say about feet, but not so. Outlander has fleet feet, sweet feet, trick-or-treat feet, body heat feet, upbeat feet, mincemeat feet, eek feet, beat feet and indiscrete feet. As always, Outlander images and quotes are sprinkled throughout the lesson. Yay!

You might also think society has little to say about feet, but not so. Dozens of feet adages accent life’s little highs and lows:

  • Foot in both camps (fence sitter)
  • Ankle deep (in trouble)
  • Back on your feet (on the mend)
  • Bound hand and foot (hampered)
  • Cold feet (lost interest)
  • Get your feet wet (get involved)
  • Drag your feet (unenthusiastic)
  • Feet of clay (flawed)
  • Foot in mouth (oops!)
  • Keep feet on the ground (be sensible)
  • Footloose (6 degrees of Kevin Bacon)

As a grad student, my gross anatomy prof declared feet the ugliest body part! Beauty being in the eye of the beholder aside, our foot is far more specialized than our hand as no other animal has a foot quite like ours! I hold with the master, Leonardo DaVinci who opined: 

The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art.

Yes!    

Understand, the human foot is a truly complex mechanical structure consisting of 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than a hundred muscles, tendons, and ligaments! Despite this complexity, our feet usually work pretty well, especially if we care for them.  Also, know this lesson is geared for general readers, so the most complex features and smallish details are not covered.

Before we begin the lesson, let’s take a gander at Claire’s fleet feet (Outlander ep 101 Sassenach) as she retreats from redcoat muskets firing live rounds! Her poor heels are rubbed raw from running – leather shoon sans sox. Not a good plan, but did the lass have another choice? Och!

Foot: Always prudent to begin a lesson with definitions. In anatomy, the foot is the lower limb below (distal to) the ankle joint (Image A –  blue line).

Orienting ourselves further, the top of foot is the dorsal surface; the bottom (sole) is the plantar surface. Inner side is the medial surface and the outer side is the  lateral surface.

 

Image A 

Skeleton: We begin with the foot skeleton, a foundation of 26 bones. Image B shows bones of a right foot, 26 in all. The left panel shows bones from the bottom or plantar perspective. The right panel shows foot bones from above, the dorsal view.

Toe bones are homologous to digits of the hand (Anatomy Lesson #22, Jamie’s Hand – Symbol of Sacrifice). They are numbered 1-5 beginning with the big toe and working to the little toe.

Phalanges: Toes contain 14 phalanges (Image B, pink) – three bones per each toe, except the big toe which, like the thumb, only contains two phalangeal bones. And, the big or great toe goes by the scientific name, hallux.

Metatarsals: Five metatarsal bones (aqua) are homologous with metacarpals of the hand. 

Tarsals: Seven tarsal bones are homologous to eight carpals of the wrist, although more massive and oddly-shaped than the small carpals.  The largest, the calcaneus, is the heel bone. Atop it is the talus which helps form the ankle joint. 

There won’t be a quiz of tarsal bones <g>, but, just so you know, their names are (Image B):

  • three cuneiforms – 1, 2, & 3 (start counting on big toe side – orange)
  • cuboid (pink)
  • navicular (green)
  • calcaneus (yellow)
  • talus (blue)

 

Image B 

Need another Outlander hit? My pleasure. No, really! The morning after (he, he), Claire sports a pair of verra sweet feet (Starz ep 107, The Wedding)! Aw, look at those wee tootsies, shyly nesting. It was a big, big night! ’Nuf said! 😉

Oops, not quite, ‘nuf said. A lovely foot passage from Dragonfly in Amber book. Herself even mentions metatarsals!

“I’m honest enough to say that I dinna care what the right and wrong of it may be, so long as you are here wi’ me, Claire,” he said softly. “If it was a sin for you to choose me … then I would go to the Devil himself and bless him for tempting ye to it.” He lifted my foot and gently kissed the tip of my big toe. I laid my hand on his head; the short hair felt bristly but soft, like a very young hedgehog. “I don’t think it was wrong,” I said softly. “But if it was … then I’ll go to the Devil with you, Jamie Fraser.” He closed his eyes and bowed his head over my foot. He held it so tightly that I could feel the long, slender metatarsals pressed together; still, I didn’t pull back. I dug my fingers into his scalp and tugged his hair gently.

Divisions: Foot bones are divided into three regions. Such divisions aren’t whimsy, they are important in issues such as evaluating trauma, surgical amputation of part of all of a foot or evaluation of foot mechanics. 

  • Forefoot: Includes phalanges and metatarsals (Image C – white, left side). 
  • Mid-foot: Includes three cuneiforms, cuboid and navicular (Image C, turquoise). 
  • Hind-foot: calcaneus and talus (Image C – white, right side). 

Image C 

Ligaments: Now, the 26 foot bones don’t just hang out under the skin. They are firmly bound to each other and to our leg bones via dozens of ligaments (Image D)!

Ligaments are fibrous tissues binding bone to bone and they are critical for foot integrity because feet bear our weight against gravity! Loose or torn ligaments give folks many problems because these compromise the integrity of the skeletal system! 

Image D shows only some of the numerous ligaments anchoring and stabilizing foot bones; here, we see lateral and dorsal ligaments. The plantar and medial ligaments are not visible.

The lesson won’t discuss these ligaments in detail because they are complex and tedious, but the image dramatically emphasizes some of the many ligaments needed to stabilize the foot skeleton!

Image D 

Arches: We all know the foot has an arch, but did you know it actually has three arches (some count a 4th partial arch)? Two are longitudinal and one is transverse. The arches are maintained by interlocking tarsal and metatarsal bones, supported by ligaments and very strong tendons (image E).

  •  medial longitudinal arch (Image E – blue dashed line) extends from heel bone to first three metatarsals. Typically, it curves above the ground. When barefoot at the beach, it does not leave an imprint in sand (unless one is seriously flatfooted!).
  •  lateral longitudinal arch (Image E – green line) is a low arch arch between calcaneus and 5th metatarsal. When barefoot, it typically leaves an imprint in sand.
  • transverse arch (Image E – red line) runs across the foot at the tarsometatarsal joints (defined below).  

Although these arches are supported by strong ligaments and tendons, they exhibit some mobility when weight is applied to or removed from the foot. This springiness makes walking and running more economical in terms of energy.

Image E 

Speaking of arches, how ‘bout some booted ones! Yep, another dose to wake you students! BJR’s booted “trick or treat feet” (Starz, ep 108, Both Sides Now) will do the trick, nicely! The blackguard throws Claire over his desk preparing to further assault her. Darn! She canna reach the sgian dubh in her boot! No treat here – all vicious tricks!

Diana describes Claire’s toes just after Jamie squats in the prison window (Outlander book). 

Randall bent and scooped up the gun in a quicksilver motion. As soon as the knife left my throat, I tried to sit up, but he placed a hand on my chest and shoved me flat again. He held me down with one hand, using the other to aim the pistol at Jamie. The discarded knife lay somewhere on the floor near my feet, I thought. Now, if only I had prehensile toes.… The dirk in my pocket was as unreachable as if it were on Mars.

Plantar Aponeurosis: Remove plantar skin (very difficult on a cadaver) and a triangular sheet of connective tissue is revealed, the plantar aponeurosis. It is anchored to the calcaneus, flares in the mid-foot and ends as five (or more) bands radiating toward bases of the toes (Image F). 

The tough, fibrous aponeurosis is made mostly of collagen fibers. As such, it is a shock absorber when the foot strikes the ground. It also stabilizes arches of the foot and allows flexion at the first metatarsophalangeal joint, which carries the majority of body weight during ambulation.

If the plantar aponeurosis becomes injured or inflamed, it may cause plantar fasciatis. A painful condition common to athletes, it causes stinging foot pain that can lead to further leg injuries if untreated.

 

Image F 

Another break for Outlander! This is a splendid example of body heat feet (Starz, ep 109, The Reckoning). Things are on broil up at Castle Leoch! Claire’s right heel hooks over Jamie’s Fraser plaid….hum…. Talk about a foothold! Snort!

Joints: We have covered joints (the anatomical type) in prior lessons (e.g. Anatomy Lesson #2, When Claire Meets Jamie or How to Fall in Love While Reducing a Dislocated Shoulder Joint!).  

To reiterate, joints are sites where two or more bones meet; some are moveable and some are not. Moveable joints allow for motion and there are several types. Our 33 foot joints fall into the following categories:

  • TC Joint (1): between distal tibia, fibula and talus, a.k.a. talocrural or ankle joint
  • IT Joints (13): between tarsal bones 
  • TM Joints (5): between metatarsals and tarsals
  • MP Joints (5) : between proximal phalanges and metatarsals
  • IP Joints (9): between phalangeal bones

Reducing the technicality of this topic, we will only cover the superbly designed TC or ankle joint! The ankle joint is a mortise joint, a term used in carpentry. Here, the talus projects upwards and fits inside a three-sided bone box formed by tibia and fibula of the leg  (Anatomy Lesson #27, Colum’s Legs and Other Things, Too!). Thus, our “ankle bones” are not separate bones, they are parts of tibia and fibula.  The inner ankle bone is actually the medial malleolus of the tibia; the outer ankle bone is the lateral malleolus of the fibula. This is a highly stable hinge joint that allows movement (see below).

Image G 

Before the lesson turns to movements, let’s take a quick keek at Jamie’s upbeat feet! Cheerfully dressed in nothing but a sark, he strides to the freezing mill stream to sleuth out a prob with the water wheel (Starz ep 113, Lallybroch). Seems it is producing gritty bannocks! Upbeat feet, that is, until a mess ‘o Redcoats arrive! Notice: his right foot is lifted at the ankle, a movement known as dorsiflexion. Yep! Read on to learn more about this term.

Movements: Various movements occur at the foot joints. Some are slight; others are more generous and important for ambulation. The talocrural joint (ankle joint) allows for six movements at the ankle; the first four are demonstrated in Image H: 

  • dorsiflexion: lifting foot at the ankle
  • plantar flexion: pointing the foot at the ankle
  • inversion: turning sole medially (toward midline)
  • eversion: turning sole laterally (toward the side)
  • abduction: turning foot to side (slight)
  • adduction: turning foot toward midline (slight)

Psst…..Practitioners often prefer the terms, supination for inversion and pronation for eversion.

Image H 

Next, there are toe movements which can occur independent of the ankle joint. These involve IP and MP joints: 

  • flexion: curling the toes 
  • extension: lifting the toes
  • abduction: spreading the toes
  • adduction: returning the toes to a resting position

Image I 

Back for an Outlander scene and a collective gasp!  Jenny takes a hot poker to the sole of a redcoat captive. Ouch! The poor man now has mincemeat feet. What ya doing Jenny?

Spill, messenger! Where is my bro??? In no uncertain terms, Big Sis declares to Claire: 

Love Forces a Person to choose!

Extrinsic Muscles: First, a wee definition…long time students will remember that in anatomy the leg is the lower limb between knee and ankle joints; thigh is between hip and knee joints. Most people use the term lower leg for the anatomical leg.

Muscles acting on the foot are classified as extrinsic muscles, those originating in the leg, and intrinsic muscles, those originating in the foot.

Amazing Fact: all leg muscles, excepting one, actually act on the foot! These are so complex, they must be simplified. Yes, Image J is simplified!!!

Extrinsic muscles in Fig. J (anterior and side muscles – left panel):

  • tibialis anterior – dorsiflexes & supinates foot
  • extensor hallucis longus – extends big toe & dorsiflexes foot
  • extensor digitorum longus – extends toes 2-5 & dorsiflexes foot
  • fibularis longus & fibularis brevis – pronate & plantar flex foot

Extrinsic muscles in Fig. J (superficial posterior muscles – middle panel):

  • gastrocnemius – plantar flexes foot (cut away in image)
  • soleus – plantar flexes foot

(Note: gastroc and soleus jointly share the massive achilles tendon which inserts into calcaneus. Normally, these are extremely strong plantar flexors)

Extrinsic muscles in Fig. J (deep posterior muscles – right panel):

  • flexor hallucis longus – flexes big toe & plantar flexes foot
  • flexor digitorum longus – flexes toes 2-5 & plantar flexes foot
  • tibialis posterior – plantar flexes & supinates foot

Image J 

Whew. That was scary! Time for another Outlander treat to lower the blood pressure. Oops, this is pretty scary, too (Starz ep 209, Je Suis Prest) – yuk! It’s eek feet for puir Angus – the lad has been careless with his feet. Nurse Claire warned him to keep them dry! 

Back to anatomy. No, we are not finished with muscles. Gasp!

Intrinsic Muscles of Dorsum (top) of Foot: As stated above, intrinsic muscles arise from foot bones. There are two smallish muscles on the dorsum of the foot, not shown in Image K. 

  • extensor hallucis brevis – extends the big toe
  • extensor digitorum brevis – extends toes 2-5

Intrinsic Muscles of Plantar Foot: Believe it or not, 18 muscles are located deep to the plantar aponeurosis. Who would have thought??? These are arranged in four layers (Image K –  from left to right). If you think these look challenging, you are right. Outside the head, the foot is one of the most difficult body parts to dissect! 

First structure in Image J (left panel) 

  • Plantar aponeurosis – not a muscle

1st Layer of Intrinsic Muscles in Image J ( 2nd panel):

  • abductor hallucis – draws big toe towards midline of body
  • abductor digiti minimi (I love this name!) – draws 5th toe away from foot
  • flexor digitorum brevis – flexes toes 2-5

2nd Layer of Intrinsic Muscles in Image J (3rd panel)

  • Lumbricals – both flex & extend different phalanges of toes 2-4
  • Quadratus plantae – flexes toes 2-4

3rd Layer of Intrinsic Muscles in Image J (4th panel)

  • flexor hallucis brevis – flexes big toe
  • adductor hallucis – draws big toe towards foot
  • flexor digiti minimi brevis – flexes 5th toe

4th Layer of Intrinsic Muscles in Image J (5th panel –  horizontal)

  • dorsal interossei – abduct toes 2-4 (spreads toes)
  • plantar interossei – adduct toes 3-5 (returns toes to resting position)

Image K

Now, given that mess of muscles, you probably appreciate how complex foot movements can be achieved. With some 20 intrinsic and 10 extrinsic muscles controlling our feet, they are quite capable, indeed!

Back to Outlander! We see Claire’s poor, weary beat feet, exposed to sand, surf, sun and formicidae (Anatomy Lesson #55, Formidable Formicidae) in Outlander ep 311, Uncharted! Trudging in wet shoes, dealing with festering ant bites, surviving snake slithers…. Diana explains Claire’s feet in Voyager book:

Squads of tiny purple crabs ran off in profound agitation at my approach. My feet sank into the mud to the ankles, and I thought better of putting on my shoes, wet as they were… My feet were bruised and sore, and punctured by fallen palmetto fronds, but the path before us looked relatively smooth.

We really must take good care of our feet if we want them to last. Exercise, weight control, healthy diet, wearing supportive shoes all help ensure the feet bear our weight for a lifetime. Even to the most careful, our feet suffer many assaults: bone spurs, athlete’s foot, plantar fasciitis, corns, bunions, Morton’s neuroma, flat feet, hammer toe, warts, stress fractures, etc. Or, we lose toes because of poor circulation, trauma, or developmental issues –  such problems have plagued us since ancient times. To the point, the oldest known functional prosthesis is an Egyptian wooden mummy toe  (Image L). It actually articulates at the laced surfaces. So clever! 

Hey, wait! How do we know it is not a daddy toe? He, he!

Image L 

Speaking of toes, Voyager book describes a splendid battle with pirates aboard ship. Sadly, the scene did not make it into the TV version. But, here is a shocking tidbit from the bloody fight:

Cursing incoherently under my breath, I ran to the bottom of the ladder, and reaching up, swung the long-handled amputation knife at his foot, as hard as I could. There was a high-pitched screech from the pirate. Something flew past my head, and a spray of blood spattered across my cheek, wet-hot on my skin. Startled, I dropped back, looking down by reflex to see what had fallen. It was a small brown toe, calloused and black-nailed, smudged with dirt.

Alrightie then! <G>

Let’s consider how you can hurt your neat, sweet, elite, complete feet… In your wildest dreams, do you think shoes such as these are good for feet (Image M)? Wear high heels for long, and one guarantees that later in life, the wearer will have foot problems. The foot is not designed to walk around on the metatarsophalangeal joints (ball) of the foot, which is why wearing spikes hurt!!!

Gentle admonition: if you wear this type of footwear, you should stop.

Image M 

Closing this lesson with indiscrete feet: no Outlander lass is quite as indiscrete and raunchy as Geillis (Gillian) Edgars Duncan Abernathy. Puir young Ian; that dear lad’s cheek is no place for a witch’s foot (Outlander ep 313, The Bakra)! 

BTW, the prominent ridges passing to 2nd to 5th toes are tendons of extensor digitorum longus! Yay!

Bottom line: The complete and complex human foot is truly an anatomical work of art. Let’s vow to take good care of ours!

The deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

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Photo Creds: Sony/Starz; www.cba.ca (Image – L); www.DHgate.com (Image M ); www.digikalla.info (Image J); www.earthslab.com (Image G); www.footankle.strker.com (Image C); www.goodfeet.com (Image A); www.heatheappointments.com (Image I); www.nurseslab.com  (Image K – ); www.slideplayer.com (Image E, Image F, Image H); www.teachmeanatomy.com (Image B); www.wickimedia.commons.org (Image D)