Tag: outlander

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Fun Fact: mentalis

image of Marsali, Fergus and Jamie from Outlander TV show.

Starz episode 309, The doldrums

Anatomy def: Paired mentalis muscles arise from mandible and insert into skin of chin. These elevate and wrinkle chin skin and, when fully contracted, protrude the lower lip.

Outlander def:  The “you-canna-tell-me-and-Fergus-what-to-do” muscles. Marsali is spectacular at wrinkling chin-skin as she glares at her step-father aboard the rocking Artemis. When an immovable object meets an unstoppable force – dinna mess with #defiantmarsali!

Learn about mentalis muscles in Antomy Lesson #26, Jamie’s Chin – Manly Mentus.

Because mentalis muscles wrinkle chin skin and protrude lower lip, these are  sometimes termed the “pouting muscles.” Particularly useful to express doubt or displeasure! (See above: Marsali)  <G> 

Read about chins in Voyager book: pouty, pugnacious, stubbled, stubborn, thoughtful, pointed, expressive… Herself covers all the chin-bits because chins are very expressive facial structures. Aye? A great quote about Marsali’s chin. Pssst…… please lass, dinna address your step-mum this way! We love our Claire and you will, too. Give her a chance!

I was writing in our shared cabin, making surgical notes on a minor amputation—two smashed toes on one of the foredeck hands. I had just completed a drawing of the surgical site, when a shadow darkened the doorway of the cabin, and I looked up to see Marsali standing there, chin thrust out pugnaciously.

“I need to know something,” she said firmly. “I dinna like ye, and I reckon ye ken that, but Da says you’re a wisewoman, and I think you’re maybe an honest woman, even if ye are a whore, so you’ll maybe tell me.”

See Marsali’s pugnacious chin in Starz episode 309, The Doldrums, as she confronts Jamie (and later in the same episode, she confronts Claire). Ruined reputation or no, she will have her Frenchy-Fergus!

The deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

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Photo Credit: Sony/Starz

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Fun Fact: adductor

picture of jamie fraser on battle field from outlander

Starz Outlander episode 301, The Battle Joined

Anatomy def: Brought in? Adductor means brought in? How do such words apply to anatomy?

Easy peasy: adductors are muscles whose contraction draws a body part toward the midline or toward another body part. Six adductor muscles draw the thigh toward the midline: gracilis, adductor brevis, adductor longus and adductor magnus, aided by pectineus and obturator externus.

Outlander def: Jamie’s thigh-high kilt <G> reveals powerful left thigh adductors forming a well-defined mass of the inner thigh (red arrow). A grinning Murtagh dispatches a red coat and helps Jamie rise from a seated position: “ye are welcome!” Adductors contract to lend balance and assist Murty’s lift: git up, man, there’s a battle raging!!! 

Learn about the thigh and its powerful muscles in Anatomy Lesson #7, Jamie’s Thighs or Ode to Joy. 

Read about thighs in all Diana’s works as Herself often writes about them – not specifically about adductor muscles, but about various thigh muscles, sinews, bones, skin and scars! Consider this wonderful bit from Voyager book; takes you right back to that intimate C + J reunion after 20 agonizing years apart:

I reached out and stroked his thigh, touching the long scar that ran down it. “I wish I could have been there to take care of you,” I said softly. “It was the most horrible thing I ever did—leaving you, knowing … that you meant to be killed.” I could hardly bear to speak the word. 

“Well, I tried hard enough,” he said, with a wry grimace that made me laugh, in spite of my emotion. “It wasna my fault I didna succeed.” He glanced dispassionately at the long, thick scar that ran down his thigh. “Not the fault of the Sassenach wi’ the bayonet, either.” 

See Jamie’s adductor muscles in Starz Outlander episode 301, The Battle Joined. They are admirably awesome (red arrow)!

A deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

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Fun Fact: Gluteus Maximus

example of gluteus maximus from Outlander TV show

Starz episode 312 The Bakra 

Anatomy def: Gluteus maximus is the most superficial muscle of each rump cheek.  Buttock contour is underpinned by three gluteal muscles (the glutes) of which gluteus maximus is largest and greatest. The extremely important Gluteus maximus::

  • extends the thigh backward
  • rotates the thigh outward
  • maintains the trunk in an upright position

Outlander def: Mistress Abernathy’s sensuous curve compels Ian’s horrified gaze as she washes away the gout of goat’s blood! Gluteus maximus underlies that seductive right buttock. He may be no a virgin, but wee Ian is petrified – the Bakra is not fair Brighidat of the print shop (nor Mary of Voyager book)! Yikes!

The Blood Bath! Let’s momentarily diverge from this Fun Fact to ask, could Geillis really bathe in a font filled with goat’s blood? Well, scientifically speaking, it depends.

  • No, not if the blood went directly from goats to the font – it would quickly clot leaving Geillis to soak in blood pudding!
  • Yes, if salt or vinegar were added to the blood, as these culinary anticoagulants likely rest in the cupboards of Rose Hall!
  • The cost? Staggering! It would take 169.5, 70-pound goats to produce 100 gallons (303 liters) of blood and her sunken tub is a big ‘un!  That’s a huge herd to sacrifice – Annekje Johansen would croak, not to mention Father Fogden! Meh!

Now, back to our Fun Fact!

Learn about gluteus maximus in Anatomy Lesson #1: Jamie’s Tush or Bottom’s Up!. Yes, the very first anatomy lesson published in October 2014! Jamie’s bottom including his gluteus maximus are admired from a purely scientific perspective! 

Read about buttocks in Voyager book. Turns out, buttocks are Herself’s fav body parts to describe! Grand choice, Diana! <G>

He was naked, his back turned to me as he stood in front of the chamber pot he had just pulled from its resting place beneath the washstand. I admired the squared roundness of his buttocks, the small muscular hollow that dented each one, and their pale vulnerability.

See Mistress Abernathy’s gluteus maximus form the lovely contour of her right buttock in Starz episode 312, The Bakra!

A deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist