Physiological remarks on several muscles of the upper ex­tremity

Abstract

There is a remarkable fold in the tendon of the pectoralis major muscle, described by all anatomists, but the purpose of which has never yet, as the author believes, been explained. The muscle itself consists of two portions, one smaller and upper, arising from the cla­vicle, and passing downwards and outwards to an insertion in the humerus at a greater distance from the shoulder-joint than the place where the tendon of the larger and lower portion of the muscle, which arises from the sternum and ribs, and has a general direction upwards and outwards, terminates. Thus the respective portions of tendon belonging to the two divisions of the muscle are found to cross each other ; the margin of that proceeding from the lower division passing behind, and appearing above that which proceeds from the upper fibres of the muscle. The forces exerted by each portion of the muscle being thus applied to parts of the bone at different distances from the fulcrum, act with different mechanical powers ; which the author finds in every case to correspond exactly with the variations in the effects required to be produced, under different circumstances, by these mus­cular actions. Those muscular fibres, the tendon of which is inserted nearest to the centre of motion, and which consequently act by a shorter lever, are adapted to motions requiring a less force, but a greater velocity : and such is precisely the mechanical condition of the lower portion of the pectoralis major, which is employed more especially in bringing down the arm, when previously raised, as in striking with the hammer, pickaxe, &c., where velocity is chiefly re­quired, the weight of the instrument held in the hand sufficiently sup­plying the diminution of force. On the contrary, the lever by which the upper portion of the same muscle is enabled to act being, from the more distant insertion of its tendon, of greater length, is calcu­lated to procure force at the expense of velocity, and is therefore pe­culiarly fitted for the performance of those actions by which the arm is elevated and weights raised; these being precisely the actions in which such muscles are employed. Adverting, also, to the respective obliquities in the direction of their action, the author traces the same express correspondence between the mechanism employed and the purpose contemplated. He pursues the same line of argument and obtains the same results in extending the inquiry to the structure and uses of those muscles, such as the coraco-brachialis, and the anterior fibres of the deltoid, which cooperate with the upper division of the pectoralis major; and the teres major and latissimus dorsi, which combine their actions with that of the lower division of the pectoral muscle. This diversified adaptation of parts, he observes, forms the chief characteristic of the mechanism of Nature. Operating with unlimited means, she yet works with scrupulous economy; in all her structures no power is redundant, nor a single advantage lost: so that, how­ever completely an arrangement may be subservient to one primary purpose, we find, on renewed examination, an equally accurate ad­justment to various secondary and no less important ends.