Tag: scotland

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Fun Fact: Arrector Pilus

Anatomy Def: Arrector pili (pl.) are small muscles attached to hair follicles. Contraction of these muscles pulls hairs upright, sometimes causing “goose bumps.” 

Outlander Def: Beard hairs grant Claire endless moments of fascination. Stroking beard hairs causes arrector pili muscles to contract and raise the hairs –  making shaving easier.

Learn about arrector pili (pl) muscles in Anatomy Lesson #6, “Claire’s Hair – Jamie’s Mane” or “Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ!”

Arrector pili are smalll spindle-shaped muscles at the base of our body hairs. Under involuntary control, various stimuli cause arrector pili to contract including stroking, cold, fright, and aggression. Contraction may also aid expulsion of sebum from skin sebaceous glands. 

Read about Jamie’s facial hairs in Voyager book, where, aboard the Artemis, Claire contemplates his substantial beard. Herself has a such way with words!

“… I wish you wouldn’t shave your beard just yet,” I added, as he bent to set down the tray he was holding. 

“Why not?” He glanced curiously over his shoulder at me, and I felt the heat rising in my cheeks.

“Er … well. It’s a bit … different.” 

“Oh, aye?” He stood up and took a step toward me.

… The dark blue eyes had slanted into triangles of amusement. 

“How, different?” he asked. 

“Well, it … um …” I brushed my fingers vaguely past my burning cheeks. “It feels different. When you kiss me. On my … skin.” 

See Claire gently stroke Jamie’s beard in Outlander episode 313, Eye of the Storm. Warning! Warning! Arrector pili muscles on high alert! <G>

The deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

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Photo Credit: Sony/Starz

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Fun Fact: Thorax

 

Anatomy Def: Thorax or chest is the torso between base of neck and respiratory diaphragm.

Outlander def: Claire’s sgian dbuh hovers periously close to Angus’ thorax as he bravely bares his chest for a killing lesson!  Careful, Angus, Claire soon becomes adroit with that blade…weil, any blade! <G>

Learn about the thorax in Anatomy Lesson #15, “Crouching Grants –  Hidden Dagger!” 

Sternum (breastbone), thoracic vertebrae and 12 pr. of ribs and cartilages form the bony support for the thorax as it provides safe harbor for heart, lungs, esophagus and trachea.

Read about the thorax with its breastbone, ribs and knobbly spine in Outlander book. Rupert gives the lesson to Claire in the written word.  Angus is the authority in TV version.

“Now, here,” he said, pointing to the center, just under the breastbone, “is the spot to aim for, if ye’re killin’ face to face. Aim straight up and in, as hard as ye can. That’ll go into the heart, and it kills wi’in a minute or two. The only problem is to avoid the breastbone; it goes down lower than ye think, and if ye get yer knife stuck in that soft bit on the tip, it will hardly harm yer victim at all, but ye’ll be wi’out a knife, and he’ll ha’ you. 

See Angus’ thorax in Outlander episode 108, Both Sides Now. Angus, we miss ye, sweet laddie!

The deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

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Photo credit: Sony/Starz

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Fun Fact: brachialis

Anatomy def: Brachialis is a muscle of the upper arm; covering lower half of humerus (upper arm bone) and ending on ulna (forearm bone), it flexes (bends) the elbow joint.

Outlander def: Brachialis, part and parcel of the big, beautiful bulge on Jamie’s right arm. The Highland Hero’s eye scans the sky for stormy weather. It’s gonna be a bad one – best batten down the hatches!

Learn about brachialis muscle in Anatomy Lesson #20, Arms! Arms! Arms! – Redux!

Contrary to popular opinion, biceps is NOT the most powerful flexor of the elbow joint. This honor goes to – drum roll – brachialis! Believe it or not, brachialis generates roughly 50% more power than biceps during elbow flexion. Truth!

Puir brachialis, lying deep and over shadowed by the honking biceps, it doesn’t get its fair share of attention from muscle builders or Outlander lovers.  

Read about arm muscles in Voyager book. Couldn’t find a quote for Jamie, but there is a splendid one of Claire as she assess her assets, <G> before venturing through the stones once more. Just try to remember —brachialis, that step-sister deep to biceps, performs MOST of the work during elbow flexion!

Dropping the towel, I looked myself over. Flexed my arms, raised them overhead, checking for bagginess. None; biceps and triceps all nicely defined, deltoids neatly rounded and sloping into the high curve of the pectoralis major. I turned slightly to one side, tensing and relaxing my abdominals—obliques in decent tone, the rectus abdominis flattening almost to concavity.

See the impressive bulge created by Jamie’s biceps and brachialis in Starz, Episode 313, Eye of the Storm!

The deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

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Photo Credit: Sony/Starz