Stella musculosa nuchae
Dublin Core
Title
Stella musculosa nuchae
Subject
Cervical vertebrae
Muscles
Holmes, Oliver Wendell, 1809-1894
human remains
Description
Border lines of knowledge, in some provinces of medical science is a published and somewhat expanded version of Holmes’ introductory lecture to the students at Harvard Medical School at the opening of term on November 6, 1861. Although he refers to human anatomy as “an almost exhausted science,” Holmes goes on to list some of his own anatomical observations:
“The nucleated cells found connected with the cancellated structure of the bones, which I first pointed out and had figured in 1847, and have shown yearly from that time to the present, and fossa masseterica, a shallow concavity on the ramus muscle, which acquires significance when examined by the side of the deep cavity on the corresponding part in some carnivore to which it answers, may perhaps be claimed as deserving attention."
Holmes continues, commenting on the discovery of this artifact, as he notes how:
"I have also pleased myself by making a special group of the six radiating muscles which diverge from the spine of the axis, or second cervical vertebra, and by giving to it the name stella musculosa nuchæ. But this scanty catalogue is only an evidence that one may teach long and see little that has not been noted by those who have gone before him.”
“The nucleated cells found connected with the cancellated structure of the bones, which I first pointed out and had figured in 1847, and have shown yearly from that time to the present, and fossa masseterica, a shallow concavity on the ramus muscle, which acquires significance when examined by the side of the deep cavity on the corresponding part in some carnivore to which it answers, may perhaps be claimed as deserving attention."
Holmes continues, commenting on the discovery of this artifact, as he notes how:
"I have also pleased myself by making a special group of the six radiating muscles which diverge from the spine of the axis, or second cervical vertebra, and by giving to it the name stella musculosa nuchæ. But this scanty catalogue is only an evidence that one may teach long and see little that has not been noted by those who have gone before him.”
Abstract
Dissected and dried preparation of the muscles of the cervical vertebrae named by Holmes stella musculosa nuchae (“muscular star of the neck”).
Creator
Holmes, Oliver Wendell, 1809-1894
Date Created
1862
Rights
The Harvard Medical Library does not hold copyright on all the materials in the collection. For use information, contact the Warren Anatomical Museum Curator at chm@hms.harvard.edu
Access Rights
Accessing collections in the Warren Anatomical Museum and the Warren Anatomical Museum archive requires advanced notice. Please submit a request to Public Services at chm@hms.harvard.edu to access the displayed item
Is Part Of
Warren Anatomical Museum, WAM 00250
Format
image
Extent
1 dissected and dried preparation
Medium
Anatomical preparation, human
Type
physical object
Identifier
DigID0002217
Provenance
This excised and dried muscle preparation originated from an unknown dissection subject and was prepared by Oliver Wendell Holmes in 1862 for demonstration in of his discovered neck group termed the stella musculosa nuchae. Holmes donated this mount in 1868 to the Warren Anatomical Museum.
Files
Collection
Citation
Holmes, Oliver Wendell, 1809-1894, “Stella musculosa nuchae,” OnView, accessed May 13, 2024, https://collections.countway.harvard.edu/onview/index.php/items/show/6280.