Natural theology : or, evidences of the existence and attributes of the Deity : collected from the appearances of nature . asunder. It is hardly imaginable, how great aforce is necessary, even to stretch, still more tobreak, this ligament; yet so flexible is it, as tooppose no impediment to the suppleness of thejoint. By its situation also, it is inaccessible toinjury from sharp edges. As it cannot be rup-tured, (such is its strength,) so it cannot be cut,except by an accident which would sever thelimb. If I had been permitted to frame a proof * This membrane is the capsular, or bursal ligamen
Natural theology : or, evidences of the existence and attributes of the Deity : collected from the appearances of nature . asunder. It is hardly imaginable, how great aforce is necessary, even to stretch, still more tobreak, this ligament; yet so flexible is it, as tooppose no impediment to the suppleness of thejoint. By its situation also, it is inaccessible toinjury from sharp edges. As it cannot be rup-tured, (such is its strength,) so it cannot be cut,except by an accident which would sever thelimb. If I had been permitted to frame a proof * This membrane is the capsular, or bursal ligament, commonto every moveable joint. It certainly connects the bones together,but does not possess much strength; its chief use is to produceand preserve the synovia in the part where it is required. Thesecurity and strength of the hinge joint depends on certain liga-ments called lateral ligaments, and the tendons of those muscleswhich pass over it. In the particular instance of the knee, fromits being the largest joint in the body, there is, as we shall pre-sently find, an additional contrivance to prevent n,,„ril Ill--,! ? IN THE HUMAN FRAME. 113 of contrivance, such as might satisfy the mostdistrustful inquirer, I know not whether I couldhave chosen an example of mechanism more un-equivocal, or more free from objection, than thisligament. Nothing can be more mechanical;nothing, however subservient to the safety, lesscapable of being generated by the action of thejoint. I would particularly solicit the readersattention to this provision, which is found in thehead of the thigh-bone;* to its strength, its struc-ture, and its use. It is an instance upon which Ilay my hand. One single fact, weighed by a mindin earnest, leaves oftentimes the deepest impres-sion. For the purpose of addressing differentunderstandings and different apprehensions—forthe purpose of sentiment, for the purpose of ex-citing admiration of the Creators works, we diver-sify our vie
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookid, booksubjectnaturaltheology, bookyear1836
