TODAY!!!!! Is officially the last day to see Circle of Life at Stranger Factory. It’s been such an honor! Thank you to Kathie and Brandt for having me! Thank you to Karl for showing alongside me! I couldn’t ask for a better artist to share a space with! And thank you to Belinda for all the hard work you put into getting the show together! Great experience!
There are still some piece left for sale from both mine and Karl’s shows.
Middle view of throat muscles. Handbuch der Anatomie des Menschen. 1912 ed.
Vessels and nerves of the choroid and iris
This cutaway diagram clearly shows the position and relation of the sclera to the inner workings of the eyeball.
Comprising the posterior five-sixths of the connective tissue surrounding the eyeball, the sclera is contiguous with the cornea (the anterior one-sixth of the connective tissue) and the dura mater surrounding the optic nerve. Yes, that’s the same “dura mater” connective tissue that’s found surrounding the brain - in mammals, the eyes are simply outgrowths of the brain itself, not independently developed sensory organs (as they are in, say, cephalopods).
Also known as “the whites of the eye”, the sclera is comprised primarily of collagen and elastic tissue, and is a fairly durable and tough outer casing for the inner structures of the eyeball. Directly interior to the sclera is the choroid, which provides much of the structural definition and vasculature of the eyeball, but is very delicate on its own.
Humans are fairly unique among mammals in that the whites of our eyes are always showing. The small size of our irises and the contrast against the sclera allows us to clearly communicate nonverbal (and often subconscious) cues to one another using only our eyes.
Anatomy: Descriptive and Applied. Henry Gray, 1910.
Gluteal muscles
The three primary gluteal muscles (maximus, medius, and minimus), in addition to the tensor fasciae latae (lateral to the primary muscles), comprise the gluteal group, which provides the majority of the support and movement that allows humans to walk upright, rotate our legs, and support our torso.
Each individual muscle is often involved in many different movements, though not always as the primary player. All four gluteal muscles originate from the outer ilium (the back of the “wings” on the pelvis). This is known as the gluteal surface.
Gluteus maximus: (Top Left) The largest muscle in the body. Supports the pelvis, lower torso, and allows the body to remain upright and regain position after stopping movement. Despite claims to the contrary, the gluteus maximus is not what gives the majority of the shape to the buttocks - that’s largely determined by the panniculus adiposus (“hanging fat”) of the buttocks. However, exercising the gluteus maximus may cause fat loss, which gives the impression that it is the primary progenitor of the shape. Gluteus medius: (Top Center) Originates right below the gluteus maximus. Responsible for abducting the leg and maintaining an upright position while on one leg, such as during running, dancing, or entering a car. Gluteus minimus: (Top Right) The smallest of the three primary gluteals, works in concert with the gluteus medius to maintain an upright position on one leg, as well as allowing the leg to turn inwards and outwards (medial rotation). Tensor fasciae latae: (Bottom; near sartorus muscle) Located on the outside edge of the thigh, lateral to the primary gluteals. Causes knee extension, and functions to cause the primary movements during walking. Supported by the gluteus maximus. Used extensively in horseback riding.
Images: Top: Posterior muscles of the gluteal and thigh region. Gluteus maximus, medius, and minimus highlighted. From Anatomy, Descriptive and Applied. Henry Gray, 1913. Highlighted by Mikael Haggstrom. Bottom: Structures surrounding the right hip joint, including gluteal muscles. From Anatomy, Descriptive and Applied. Henry Gray, 1908.
Your costume sucks…
Props to my friend and colleague, Danny Quirk, who paints his roommate up for Halloween. Done with acrylic and sharpie marker on latex base.
Be sure to “like” his page on facebook: Danny Quirk Artwork
Removal and dissection of spinal cord in postmortem examination.
The spinal cord is rarely a point of fine-tuned focus in postmortem examinations, since the primary reason one would die that relates to it is a complete severing. As a severed spinal cord is generally fairly obvious, the nerve bundles don’t require close inspection. However, in full autopsies and criminal investigations, the spinal cord is generally closely inspected, especially if no other cause of death is found.
Postmortem Pathology. Henry L. Cattell, 1906.
Internal Anatomy of the Grass Frog [Genus Litoria]
As different as frogs are from you and I, you can clearly see how similar vertebrates are to each other when you dissect one. One heart, two lungs, a stomach, liver, spleen, gall bladder, intestines, kidneys, bladder, and gonads are visible in this particular dissection, as well as the extraordinarily strong leg muscles.
Brehms Tierleben, Bd. 1. Alfred Brehms, 1911.
