Tag: starz

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Fun Fact: Leech

Anatomy Def: The leech is a segmented parasitic worm, closely related to the earthworm. Leech also means a doctor or healer. Who knew? 😜

Outlander Def: “Get-them-off!” William Ransom, eighth Earl of Ellesmere, demands Claire free his limbs of the ghastly creatures!

Learn about blood, the sumptuous repast of leeches, in Anatomy Lesson #37, “Outlander Owies Part 3 – Mars and Scars.”

Ahhhh, now you may think leeches boring, if so, I think you could be wrong. Here are fascinating fun facts about leeches:

      • More than 700 species
      • Soft, muscular bodies that lengthen and shorten during movement
      • Most have front and back suckers
      • Three sharp blades to cut flesh sit under front sucker
      • Saliva contains  hirudin, anticoagulant peptide (short amino acid chain)
      •  Used in bloodletting for at least 2,500 yrs
      • Hemaphrodite – each has one female organ and 9 pairs of testes. 😳
      • Appear in Proverbs 30:15 as an archetype of insatiable greed!

Bloodletting via leech is a time-honored practice dating to ancient Greece and India. Throughout Europe, the medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis, was used on ailing patients to rebalance body humors.

Yet more reasons this episode was titled “Blood of My Blood!!!” 😱

In 18th and 19th century Britain, leech-gatherers travelled the marshes gathering leeches from the wild. The practice became so widespread, the population was decimated in many areas. Bloody little buggers! 😈

In Old English, lǣce, was not only the name of the animal but also referred to a physician, and lǣcecraft or leechcraft described the art of healing. Hum….

Beginning in about 1980, leeches enjoyed a resurgence in modern medicine. Today, many hospitals stock them to treat:

      • Joint disease such as epicondylitis and osteoarthritis
      • Vein diseases of the extremities
      • Microsurgery
      • Blood-clotting disorders using hirudin

WARNING! If you sport a strong wame, watch this PBS video of how a leech attaches, how it feeds and its use in modern medicine. Watch at your own discretion.  There will be blood!!!  😷

Important! A leech can be removed by breaking the seal of front and back suckers with a fingernail or other flat, blunt object, flicking the leech away. Irritating the leech with a cigarette, vinegar, salt or soap may cause it to regurgitate stomach contents into the wound and transmit pathogens to its victim. Not common, but it has been reported. 

Read about leeches in The Drums of Autumn as Lord John Grey and his “son,” William Ransom, arrive unannounced at Fraser’s Ridge. Make no mistake, Claire recognizes Jamie’s get! 😉

Blundering out of the stream, I shoved my way through the tangled branches, and burst through into the clear space beyond. A boy was dancing on the bank above me, slapping madly at his legs and howling as he hopped and fro.

“What—?” I began, and he glanced up at me, blue eyes wide with startlement at my sudden appearance.

…“Leeches,” I said, professional calm descending by habit over personal tumult. It couldn’t be, I was telling myself, at the same time that I knew it damn well was. “It’s only leeches. They won’t hurt you.” 

“I know what they are!” he said. “Get them off me!” He swatted at his calf, shuddering with dislike. “They’re vile!” 

“Oh, not so terribly vile,” I said, beginning to get a grip on myself. “They have their uses.” 

“I don’t care what use they are!” he bellowed, stamping in frustration. “I hate them, get them off me!” 

“Well, stop whacking at them,” I said sharply. “Sit you down and I’ll take care of it.” 

He hesitated, glaring at me suspiciously, but reluctantly sat down on a rock, thrusting his leech-spattered legs out in front of him. 

“Get them off now!” he demanded.

See leeches feasting on Willie’s blood in Outlander episode 406, Blood of My Blood. 🚫 Leeches for this Lord!

The deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

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Photo and Video Credits: Sony/Starz, PBS

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Fun Fact: Tendinous Intersection

Anatomy Def: Tendinous intersections are fibrous bands crossing the rectus abdominis muscles and marked by overlying skin grooves (curved red arrow).

Outlander Def: Belly grooves defining Jamie’s six-pack. Woot!

Learn about tendinous intersections (TAs) in Anatomy Lesson #16, Jamie’s Belly or Scottish Six-Pack.

Skin grooves overlying TAs are typically visible only in the lean and fit. Most humans have three pair:

    • Pair near tip of breastbone (xiphoid process),
    • Pair at navel
    • Pair midway between xiphoid and navel

Anatomical Variations:

  • TAs may be  horizontal, zigzag, arched or oblique
  • TA may be offset relative to its partner
  • Partial TAs are common (see Jamies top L groove)
  • 4th (& 5th) TA pairs may occur but usually incomplete
  • Extra TA pairs produce  an eight-pack

Question: Why do we have TAs? Are they for beauty or are they useful? Turns out, they are extremely useful.

As rectus abdominis muscles contract, the torso draws nearer the lower body. This is forward flexion. TAs allow rectus abdominis muscles to contract in segments permitting greater control over the degree of forward flexion.

Without TAs, there would be one long rectus abdominis on each side. Reduced strength can be predicted along with reduced control over the degree of forward flexion.

Does this ever happen? There is one report in the literature of a man who died at 64. Subsequent dissection revealed he had no TAs in either rectus abdominis muscle, so clearly, one can survive without these interesting structures.

Fun Fact:  are studied because the rectus abdominis muscle is used in reconstructive surgeries, especially those involving the breast.

Read about Jamie’s belly in Outlander book. Here’s Claire’s “frank” (Isn’t he 200 years away?) appraisal of Jamie on their wedding night:

“Take off your shirt,” I said, sitting up and pulling at the hem of the garment.

“Why?” he asked, but sat up and obliged. I knelt in front of him, admiring his naked body.

” ‘Because I want to look at you,’ I said.

He was beautifully made, with long graceful bones and flat muscles that flowed smoothly from the curves of chest and shoulder to the slight concavities of belly and thigh.”

See Jamie’s beautiful belly with its tendinous intersections in the above  publicity photo.

‘Nuff said!

The deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

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Photo Credit: Sony, Entertainment Weekly

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Fun Fact: Incisura

Anatomy Def: Notch between tragus and antitragus of the auricle. To understand the meaning of these words, read on!

Outlander Def: The ear cleft (red arrow) patiently awaiting Claire’s attention!

Learn about incisura in Anatomy Lesson #24  Hear, Here – The Ear! 

The auricle, part of the outer ear, is the visible, bendable flap situated on either side of the head. Like fingerprints or venous patterns on the back of hands, each auricle is unique to its owner.  The auricle has a cartilage core enveloped by thin skin. Auricular (adj.) anatomy is complex; it’s hollows, ridges, and whorls act to modify sounds waves of particular frequencies.

Near the base of the auricle and just above the ear lobe are two wee bumps: tragus is nearest the face; anti-tragus is nearest the outer rim. These bumps are separated by a notch, the incisura. Yay!

Incisura is also known as the intertragic notch.  An apropos name for that tragic moment when young Ian, Jamie’s beloved nephew, chooses to exchange himself for Roger Mac. Ian proves himself “a man of worth!”

Fun Fact: This is one good reason to know about the incisura. The incisura/intertagic notch is the point specified  in the U.S. Army’s regulation governing the length of sideburns in male soldiers. In other words, sideburns cannot be longer than the incisura. Who knew? Male soldiers, I presume! <G>

Try This: Find the notch near the base of your auricle. Insert finger. This is the incisura (intertragic notch), flanked on either side by the cartilaginous bumps, tragus and anti-tragus. Specific function of incisura is not known but likely aids in sound wave modification.

Otalgia: Some people experience incisural pain, generally known as otalgia, meaning “ear pain.” The most common causes of incisural pain are:

    • otitis externa or inflammation of outer ear (auricle/ear canal)
    • otitis media or inflammation of middle ear (between ear drum and inner ear)

Read about the auricle in Diana’s splendid big book, The fiery Cross. Many ear quotes to choose from, but in this one, Jamie’s wandering thumb comes verra close to Claire’s incisura! (cough, cough)

His fingers went under the mass of hair, and I felt his hand cup the base of my skull, holding my head like a chalice. 

“I saw my mother in her coffin,” he said at last. His thumb touched my ear, drew down the curve of helix and lobule, and I shivered at his touch. 

“The women had plaited her hair, to be seemly, but my father wouldna have it. I heard him. He didna shout, though, he was verra quiet… He undid her plaits and he spread out her hair in his two hands across the pillow…”

Sob!

See Jamie’s left incisura as he sadly ponders Ian’s decision to remain with the Mohawk in Starz Outlander episode 413, A Man of Worth! 

The deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

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Photo Credit:   Starz ep 413, A Man of Worth