147. It does not seem possible to construct a joint of great strength, capable, at the same time, of the degree of motion possessed by the joint of the shoulder. So shallow is the socket of the scapula, and so large the head of the humerus, that it seems as if the slightest movement must dislodge it from its cavity (fig. LXVI. 4. 7). For sustaining heavy weights or resisting a great amount of pressure, applied to it suddenly and in various directions, the arm is obviously unfitted. But this is not its office. The superior extremities are the organs of apprehension—the instruments by which the mind executes the commands of the will. They do not need the strength required by the organs that sustain the weight of the body and that perform the function of locomotion; but they do need freedom and extent of motion: to this strength may be sacrificed, and so it is; yet what can be done to combine strength with mobility is effected. Large and strong processes of bone, proceeding as has been shown (141), from the convex surface of the scapula (figs. LXV. and LXVI.), overhang, and to a considerable extent surround, the head of the arm-bone, especially resisting the force that would dislodge it from its socket and drive it upwards, inwards, and backwards (fig. LXV.), the directions in which force is most commonly applied to it. By these processes of bone the joint is greatly strengthened, especially in those directions. Moreover, a strong ligament, termed the fibrous capsule (fig. LXVIII. 10) envelops the joint. This ligament, arising from the neck of the scapula (fig. LXVIII. 10), expands itself in such a manner as completely to surround the head of the humerus (fig. LXVIII. 10); and then again contracts in order to be inserted into the neck of the bone (fig. LXVIII. 10). This ligament is strengthened by the tendons of no less than four muscles which are expanded over it, as well as by the powerful substance termed fascia which is reflected upon it from both the processes and ligaments of the scapula. In addition to all these expedients for fortifying the joint, it receives a further security in the position of the scapula, which is loose and unattached; which slides easily over the ribs upon its cushion of flesh; which thus obtains, by its facility of yielding, some compensation for its want of strength, eluding the force which it cannot resist.
148. The arm consists of numerous and powerful muscles, and of a single bone, the humerus, which belongs to the class of bones termed cylindrical (185).
149. The upper end of the humerus terminates in a circular head (fig. LXV. 9), which is received into the socket of the scapula (fig. LXV. 9. 7) termed, as has been stated (141), its glenoid cavity. The middle portion of the bone, or what is termed its shaft (fig. LXV. 8), diminishes considerably in magnitude, and becomes somewhat rounded (fig. LXV. 8), while its lower end again enlarges, and is spread out into a flattened surface of great extent (fig. LXIX. 1, 3, 2, 4). Of this broad flattened surface, the middle portion is grooved (fig. LXIX. 2): it is covered with cartilage; it forms the articulating surface by which the arm is connected with the fore-arm. On each side of this groove there is a projection of bone or tubercle, termed condyle (fig. LXIX. 3, 4), the inner (fig. LXIX. 3) being much larger than the outer (fig. LXIX. 4). The inner condyle gives origin to the muscles that bend, the outer to those that extend the fore-arm and the fingers (figs. LXXXIV. 1, 2, and LXXXV. 1).
1. Lower extremity of the humerus; 2. grooved surface;
3. internal condyle; 4. external condyle; 5. the upper part
of the ulna; 6. the head; 7. the neck; 8. the tubercle of
the radius.
150. The muscles that act upon the arm arise from the back (fig. LXXII. 2), the chest (fig. LXXI. 1), the clavicle (fig. LXXI. 1), and the scapula (fig. LXXI. 3); and they move the arm with freedom and power upwards, downwards, forwards, backwards, inwards, and outwards. The chief muscle that raises the arm is the deltoid (fig. LXXI. 3), which arises partly from the clavicle and partly from the scapula (fig. LXXI. 3). It has the appearance of three muscles proceeding in different directions, the different portions being separated by slight fissures (figs. LXXI. 3, and LXXII. 3). The fibres converging unite and form a powerful muscle which covers the joint of the humerus (fig. LXXI. 3). It is implanted by a short and strong tendon into the middle of the humerus (fig. LXXI. 4). Its manifest action is to pull the arm directly upwards. Its action is assisted by the muscles that cover the back of the scapula, which are in like manner inserted into the humerus, and which, at the same time that they elevate the arm, support it when raised.
View of the muscles on the fore part of the chest that
act upon the arm. 1. The muscle called the great pectoral;
2. the small pectoral; 3. the deltoid; 4. the humerus.
151. The principal muscle that carries the arm downwards is the latissimus dorsi (fig. LXXII. 2), the broadest muscle of the body, which, after having covered all the lower part of the back and loins, terminates in a thin but strong tendon which stretches to the arm, and is implanted into the humerus (fig. LXXII. 2), near the tendon of a muscle immediately to be described,—the great pectoral. When the arm is raised by the deltoid and its assistant muscles, the latissimus dorsi carries it downwards with force, and its powerful action is increased by that of other muscles which arise from the scapula and are inserted into the arm.