The blindworm or slow-worm (Anguis fragilis) is a reptile, forming a connecting link between the lizards and the snakes, perfectly snake-like in form, having no appearance of external limbs, though the bones of the shoulders and pelvis exist in a rudimentary form. They are about 30 cm long, and of nearly equal thickness throughout. Its eyes, though brilliant, are small, and hence its common name. It is common in Great Britain, and is spread over almost the whole of Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa. It is perfectly harmless, living upon worms, insects, and snails, and hybernating during the winter. It receives its specific name of fragilis from the fact that when frightened it stiffens its muscles to such an extent, and becomes so rigid, that its tail may be snapped off by a slight blow. Research Blindworm
The gorilla (Troglodytes Gorilla) is the largest anthropoid ape attaining a height of about 5.5 feet and is found in west Africa. Although a gentle and vegetarian animal, myths prevailed from the mid- 19th century until the mid-20th century of it attacking and eating the natives.
The erect position is more readily assumed by the gorilla than by most of the other anthropoid apes, owing to the shape of the sole of the foot, which is not inverted, and is shorter and broader;
but the ordinary gait is on all-fours. It has a ferocious-looking cast of features, due to the prognathism of the jaws, the extremely prominent supra-orbital ridges, and retreating forehead. Gorillas make a sleeping-place somewhat like a hammock, connecting the branches of a tree by means of the long, tough, slender stems of climbing plants, and lining it with dried fronds of palms or long grass. This abode is constructed at different heights from the ground, but there is never more than one such nest in a tree. The gorilla, like the chimpanzee, has thirteen ribs, whereas man and the orang have twelve. The gorilla and chimpanzee also have eight bones in the carpus or wrist, while the others have nine. The bones of the arm are much longer than in man, and the upper arm is longer than the forearm; the leg bones are shorter than in man. In the proportion of its molar teeth to the incisors and in the form of its pelvis it approaches somewhat closely the human form. The Phoenician navigator Hanno found the name in use in the 5th century BC in West Africa. Research Gorilla
The abdominal cavity extends from the lower border of the ribs to the pelvis. The abdominal wall is made up of muscle, layers of connective tissue, and fat and is lined by a thin double layered membrane called the periosteum. The abdominal cavity contains all of the organs of the digestive system and the genitourinary system. Research Abdominal Cavity
The adductor magnus is a large triangular muscle that forms a dividing wall between the muscles of the inner thigh and those on the back of the thigh. It is located on the inside of the thigh. This long muscle originates from a narrow point on the pelvisbone (ischiopubic ramus), passes between the masses of the hamstring and quadriceps groups and inserts, at its wide apex, in the linea aspera and on the back of the femur. It is a powerful muscle that adducts the thigh. It is innervated by the obturator and the sciatic nerves and is supplied by the profunda femoris artery. The small, flat uppermost portion of the adductor magnus is called the adductor minimus. These muscles are innervated by the obturator nerve and supplied by branches of the femoral artery. Research Adductor Magnus
The appendix is sometimes referred to as the 'abdominal tonsil' because it is composed largely of lymphoid tissue and is very susceptible to infection. It varies greatly in size, the average length being 75 mm. Normally it is a hollow tube lined with mucousmembrane, with a muscle wall similar to that of the caecum with which it communicates. Its tip may hang down over the brim of the pelvis to make contact with the bladder, the rectum, or in the female with the ovary, uterine tube or uterus. It may on the other hand, turn upwards behind the caecum pointing out towards the groin-the retro-caecal position. It may lie on the front of the caecum immediately under the anterior abdominal wall. Research Appendix
The bladder is a sac-like organ composed of musculomembranous fiber. Located in the pelvis, the bladder stores urine until it is excreted. The urine is passed to the bladder through ureters from each kidney in peristaltic waves. During excretion, the urethral orifice below the bladder is opened and the urine passes through the urethra. Though the urge to void the bladder of urine generally occurs when it has about 250 - 300 milliliters in it, the average human bladder can hold almost twice this amount. An average human excretes one to two liters of urine per day, though this is greatly dependent upon the health, diet, and level of activity of the adult. Ingested water usually is excreted within four hours of ingestion. Urine is usually clear or yellow, though this depends upon the diet and health of the individual. Urine has a distinct, ammonia-like smell which is primarily due to the nitrogenous wastes which make up 5% of the urine. The chief constituent of these wastes is urea, though ammonia, uric acid, creatinine, and a host of other waste products also are present. Research Bladder
The coccygeus (ischiococcygeus) is a triangular muscle located on each side of the pelvis. It originates from the ischium and inserts in the coccyx and sacrum. It closes the back part of the outlet of the pelvis. The coccygeus muscle is innervated by the third and fourth sacral nerves. This muscle raises and supports the coccyx. Research Coccygeus
The collecting tubules of the kidney are responsible for collecting the urine from the distal convoluted tubule of the nephron and passing it to the calyces, and from there into the renal pelvis reservoir. The collecting tubules are relatively straight, distinguishing them from the proximal and distal convoluted tubules. Research Collecting Tubule
Two common iliac arteries branch from the abdominal portion of the aorta. Each artery is about five centimeters in length and descends downward and outward toward the edge of the pelvis. The common iliac artery divides into the internal and external iliac arteries and supplies the pelvis and lower extremities. Research Common Iliac Artery
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Blindworm
