Tag: outlander

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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: Auricle

Anatomy def: The auricle is the visible part of an ear. 

Outlander def: Poor Father Ferigault’s missing head appendage!

Learn about the auricle and other features of the ear in Anatomy Lesson #24: Hear, Here – the Ear.

Because auricle sounds very much like oracle, these words are sometimes confused. The following may help keep them straight: we climb the mountain to seek wisdom from the oracle, but we listen to her wise words using our auricles. Got it?

The human ear is a composite of three ears: inner ear, middle ear and outer ear. Each auricle (pl. auricula) resides outside the skull and belongs to the outer ear. Middle and inner ears lie inside the skull.

Like many anatomical structures, the auricle bears more than one name. Thus, it is also known as the pinna (Latin meaning “feather” or “wing”).  Either term works for human anatomy.

Here’s a wee Fun Fact: Like our fingerprints and venous pattern, no two human auricula (pl.) are alike! Although the curved auricle bears 15+ named ridges and troughs, its collective appearance is unique to the owner.

The auricle is tasked with collecting and funneling sound waves toward the ear canal. But, recent studies reveal more: our auricula also amplify and filter sounds waves to preferentially select those in the frequency range of human speech! How awesome is that?

Humans also have three wee muscles that can move each auricle, although our abilities to do so vary greatly. Just compare our ear wiggling with some amazing mammals who can turn their auricula 180 degrees or even one at a time to collect, modulate and funnel sounds waves. We be whimps. <G>

Try This: Ask someone to take a photo of your auricle, then compare with that of another person. Check overall size, earlobe shape, earlobe attachment, ridges and valleys. They will likely be quite different.

Read about the Father’s grizzly wound in big book four, “Drums of Autumn.”  Diana’s description is truly riveting!

Alexandre stirred and moaned. Roger came quickly and knelt by him. He could smell fresh blood, a hot-copper smell he recognized from the slaughtering of the moose. 

“Are you hurt? What have they done?”

The answer to that was quick in coming. He turned the half-conscious priest over, to see blood streaming over face and neck in a shiny red glaze. He snatched the priest’s discarded robe to stanch the wound, pushed back the matted blond hair, and found that the priest’s right ear was missing. Something sharp had taken a patch of skin some three inches square from just behind the jaw, removing both ear and a section of scalp.

See Father Alexandre’s shocking wound sans auricle in Starz ep. 412, Providence. The good Father’s convincing whimpers and moans create a deeply moving scene. Help! Providence needed here! 

The deeply grateful, Outlander Anatomist

Photo credit: Starz