2016CohenY

Fragments of the article Cohen Y. Sheep Anatomical Terminology in the šumma immeru Omen Series and Additional Texts (2016).

Introduction

The author has translated and commented on the Akkadian text of a clay tablet (BM 29663) from Mesopotamia during the Old Babylonian period (2000-1600 BCE). The discussed document lists parts of the body and internal organs of a sheep. From our point of view, this tablet is the first time in history that the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) is mentioned. The author of the cuneiform text is unknown, most likely a diviner.

Quotes selected that mention LCF

Quote 1. P. 82

«The diviner continues to inspect the rear of the sheep, moving to view the nimšū (written ni-im-šu), the sciatic or thigh nerve».

Quote 2. P. 82

«15. A commentary from Uruk [Texte aus Uruk, 1976] equates between Sumerian sa.meš, Akkadian šerʾānu, ‘tendon’, and nimšu, which leaves the identification of the term rather secure; see CAD Š/2 309 [1992RothMT]».

Keywords

ligamentum capitis femoris, ligamentum teres, ligament of head of femur, akkadian, anatomy, sheep, animals

Original Article

Cohen Y. Sheep Anatomical Terminology in the šumma immeru Omen Series and Additional Texts. Divination as Science: A Workshop Conducted during the 60th Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale, Warsaw 2014. Warsaw: Eisenbrauns, 2016;79–92. [academia.edu]

Authors & Affiliations

Yoram Cohen

Tel Aviv University

Our commentary on the quotes

The article we are discussing is devoted to the first attempt to translate the Mesopotamian clay tablet BM 29663, stored in the British Museum (© The Trustees of the British Museum, «Lexical list; parts of a sheep; Larsa script» №1898,1115.49 britishmuseum.org). In this work, Yoram Cohen translates the Akkadian word «ni-im-šu» as «sciatic or thigh nerve». In a subsequent publication, the author clarifies the interpretation and instead of the concept of «femoral nerve» uses the term «sinew» (2018CohenY). We posit that the Akkadian concept «ni-im-šu» on the tablet signifies the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF). It is likely the very first written mention in human history of the LCF of a mammal, dating back to the Old Babylonian period, i.e., 2000-1600 BCE. For more details on the Sumerian / Akkadian words «ni-im-šu», «sa» and «sa.meš», refer to the Assyrian Dictionary (1980RothMT, N/2, p.235; 1992RothMT, Š/2 309), as well as the Pennsylvania Sumerian Dictionary (psd.museum.upenn.edu).

References

Cohen Y. An Old Babylonian List of Sheep Body Parts (BM 29663). In Panayotov SV, Vacin L. (Eds). Mesopotamian Medicine and Magic. Leiden, Boston: Brill, 2018:131-48. [academia.edu]

Roth MT (Ed). The Assyrian Dictionary of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago; Vol. 11, Pt. II. Chicago, Glückstadt: Published by the Oriental Institute and J.J. Augustin verlagbuchhandlung, 1980. [oi.uchicago.edu]

Roth MT (Ed). The Assyrian Dictionary of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago; Vol. 17, Pt. II. Chicago, Glückstadt: Published by the Oriental Institute and J.J. Augustin verlagbuchhandlung, 1992. [oi.uchicago.edu]

NB! Fair practice / use: copied for the purposes of criticism, review, comment, research and private study in accordance with Copyright Laws of the US: 17 U.S.C. §107; Copyright Law of the EU: Dir. 2001/29/EC, art.5/3a,d; Copyright Law of the RU: ГК РФ ст.1274/1.1-2,7

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PRE-SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE

Comments

1886LesshaftP

According to the author, the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) reduces shocks and impacts of the articular surfaces. In addition, P. Lesshaft states an anatomical fact: the LCF is located vertically under the part of the acetabulum, which mainly bears the weight of the body. The text is prepared for machine translation using a service built into the blog from Google or your web browser. In some cases, we have added links to quotations about LCF available on our resource, as well as to publications posted on the Internet. Über die Vorriehtungen in den Gelenken zur Milderung der mit den Bewegungen verbundenen Stösse und Erschütterungen . Von P. Lesshaft, Professor der Anatomie in St. Petersburg. (Schluß.) Die Bewegungen im Kiefergelenke werden auch von einer hier liegenden Bandscheibe (Meniscus interarticularis) gemindert, aber außerdem von Syndesmosen, die als Gomphosis der Zähne und als Nahtverschmelzung (sutura) hier vorkommen und welche nichts anderes als eine (...

Tiktaalik roseae

TIKTAALIK ROSEAE The first truly tetrapod animal (Limbed tetrapods) is recognized as the lobe-finned fish Tiktaalik roseae (clade Elpistostegalia), discovered in rocks aged about 375 Ma (2006DaeschlerEB_JenkinsJrFA; 2008ShubinN; 2017ShubinN). Discoveries in recent years have allowed us to place the taxa of early tetrapodomorphs in the following order: Tinirau, Eusthenopteron, Megalichthys, Panderichthys, Qikiqtania, Tiktaalik, Elpistostege, Parmastega, Ventastega, Acanthostega, Elginerpeton, Ymeria, Ichthyostega (2022StewartTA_ShubinNH). The closest ancestor of Tiktaalik roseae, the fragments of the skeleton of which are relatively well preserved, is Panderichthys. Reconstruction of the prehistoric fish Pandericthys Author Tyler Rhodes; original in the wikipedia.org collection (license CC BY-SA 3.0, no changes). The shape of the skeleton of the pectoral fin and shoulder girdle suggests that Panderichthys rhombolepis "walked" (2006AhlbergPE_ClackJA). At the very least...

1877MorrisH

An excerpt from the article by Morris H. Dislocations of the Thigh: their mode of occurrence as indicated by experiments, and the Anatomy of the Hip-joint (1877, pp. 161-170). The author noted that the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) is stretched during flexion, adduction, and external rotation. It was found that the LCF is always damaged in hip dislocations, is more often torn from the femur, and is rarely ruptured. Discussion of article see article 1877BrookeC . DISLOCATIONS OF THE THIGH: THEIR MODE OF OCCURRENCE AS INDICATED BY EXPERIMENTS AND THE ANATOMY OF THE HIP-JOINT. BY HENRY MORRIS, M.A., M.B., F.R.C.S., ASSISTANT SURGEON TO, AND LECTURER ON ANATOY1 AT, THE MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL. Received January 9th-Read February 13th, 1877. RECENTLY, whilst making various dissections of the hip-joint, the usually accepted doctrine that dorsal and ischiatic dislocations of the femur occur when the thigh is in a position of adduction appeared to me as very improbable, on anatomi...

163-192Galen

Fragment from the treatise Galen. On anatomical procedures (Περὶ Ἀνατομικῶν Ἐγχειρήσεων, ca. 163-192). The author writes about the high resiliency and hardness of ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF), and also notes its connective function. See our commentary at the link: 163-192Galen [Rus], and 2020ArkhipovSV_ProlyginaIV . Quote [Grc] Περὶ Ἀνατομικῶν Ἐγχειρήσεων. Βιβλιον B. K εφ . ι ʹ . Αλλά χρή σε, καθάπερ επί της χειρός επεσκέψω τους συνδέσμους των οστών, ούτω και νυν επισκέψασθαι πασών των γεγυμνωμένων διαρθρώσεων, πρώτης μεν της κατ' ισχίον, εχούσης ένα μεν εν κύκλω σύνδεσμον, απάντων των άρθρων κοινόν, (ουδέν γάρ έστιν, ότω μή περιβέβληται τοιούτος σύνδεσμος,) έτερον δε τον διά του βάθους εν τη διαρθρώσει κατακεκρυμμένον, ος συνάπτει την κεφαλήν του μηρού τη κατ' ισχίον κοιλότητι, πάνυ σκληρός ών, ώς ήδη δύνασθαι λέγεσθαι νεύρον χονδρώδες. (original source: 1821KühnCG, pp. 328-329) [Lat] De Anatomicis Administrationibus. Liber II. Cap. X. Verum considerare te convenit, ut i...

Australian Aborigines

AUSTRALIAN ABORIGENES The first cuneiform texts appeared at the dawn of the Sumerian civilization in the period between 3500-3100 BCE. Due to the fact that before this interval there was no writing, an older text mentioning ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) will never be found. Perhaps a drawing or pictogram of it will be found on a stone. Our assumption is inspired by the study of the rock art of the Australian Aborigines in the style of «X-ray art». Ancient artists, depicting animals and people, often drew bones, internal and external organs, and also designated joints. The minimum age of the early X-ray painting on the western Arnhem Land Escarpment in northern Australia is 5068-6636 years (2017JonesT_WesleyD). Here, in the area of the Burrungui (Nourlangie) and Madjedbebe (Malakunanja II) shelters, rich in rock art, human settlements existed 24-20 Kya (2017MaySK_SanzID). Modern comprehensive analysis indicates the beginning of the settlement of Australia and the territory near...

280-352Rava

Sayings of Rava extracted from the tractates Chullin and Horayot (Babylonian Talmud). Babylonian Talmud was written between about 450 - 550 in present-day Iraq (formerly Babylonia). The rabbi identifies the location and distal attachment site of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) and demonstrates knowledge of its function. See our commentary at the link: 280-352Rava [Rus]. Quote 1. [Heb] Chullin 54b3 (original source: sefaria.org ) Quote 2. [Heb] Chullin 91a12 (original source: sefaria.org ) Quote 3. [Heb] Horayot 12a:16 (original source: sefaria.org ) Translation Quote 1. [Eng] Chullin 54b3 The Gemara addresses the matter itself: Rav Mattana says: This head of the femur that was completely dislocated renders the animal a tereifa. And Rava said: The animal is kosher, but if its sinew holding the bone in place is cut, it is a tereifa. The Gemara concludes: And the halakha is: Even if the sinew is cut, the animal is still kosher...

1851HyrtlJ

The author expresses a classic view on the functions of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF): a conductor of blood vessels and a limiter of adduction of the femur. J. Hyrtl believed that it was impossible to completely dislocate the hip without tearing the LCF. Hyrtl J. Lehrbuch der Anatomie des Menschen, mit Rücksicht auf physiologische Begründung und praktische Anwendung. Wien: W. Braumüller, 1851. [fragment] Quote p. 265 In der Höhle des Gelenks liegt das runde Band des Schenkelkopfes (Lig. teres), welches an der Incisura acetabuli entspringt, und bei richtiger Neigung des Beckens, senkrecht zur Grube des Schenkelkopfes aufsteigt. Es beschränkt dieses Band die Zuziehung des Schenkels, und schreibt zugleich den durch die Incisura acetabuli eindringenden Blutgefässen den Weg vor, den sie zum Oberschenkelkopfe zu nehmen haben. Da das Band, wenn es in die Höhle des Gelenkes vorragen würde, durch Reibung viel zu leiden hätte, so...

14c.Rudolf_von_Ems

Rudolf von Ems. Weltchronik, m iniature Jacob Wrestling with an Angel ( 14th cent., between 1350 and 1375). Depicting the circumstances and mechanism of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) injury based on the description in the Book of Genesis: 25 And Ja cob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 26 And when he saw that he could not pre vail against him, he struck against the hollow of his thigh ; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was put out of joint, as he was wrestling with him. … 33 Therefore do the children of Israel not eat the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day; because he struck against the hollow of Jacob's thigh on the sinew that shrank. ( 1922LeeserI , Genesis (Bereshit) 32:25-26,33) More about the plot in our work: Ninth month, eleventh day ( 2024АрхиповСВ. Девятый месяц, одиннадцатый день ). Unknown author , m iniature Jacob Wrestling with an Ang...

1140St.Marie-Madeleine

Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene of Vézelay, capital s – Jacob with the Angel (1125 – 1140). Depicting the circumstances and mechanism of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) injury based on the description in the Book of Genesis: 25 And Ja cob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 26 And when he saw that he could not pre vail against him, he struck against the hollow of his thigh ; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was put out of joint, as he was wrestling with him. … 33 Therefore do the children of Israel not eat the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day; because he struck against the hollow of Jacob's thigh on the sinew that shrank. ( 1922LeeserI , Genesis (Bereshit) 32:25-26,33) More about the plot in our work: Ninth month, eleventh day ( 2024 АрхиповСВ. Девятый месяц, одиннадцатый день ). Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene of Vézelay (1125 – 1140). Capital (...

LCF in 2026 (August)

LCF in 2026 (August ) (Quotes from articles and books published in August 2026 mentioning the ligamentum capitis femoris) Maldonado, D. R., Schab, A. R., & Domb, B. G. (2026). Improvement in Patient‐Reported Outcomes, High Rate of Return to Sport, and Secondary Surgery Rate Ranging From 0% to 9.8% After Hip Arthroscopy in Dancers and Athletes in Flexibility Sports: A Systematic Review. Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation , e70020. [i] arthroscopyjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com Klingele, K., & Strub, D. (2026). Author Response: Considerations and Challenges in Open Reduction With Ligamentum Teres Reconstruction for Pediatric Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics . [ii] ovid.com Quesada‐Jimenez, R., Rana, K., Strok, M. J., Kahana‐Rojkind, A. H., Burt, A. K., Sugarman, E. P., & Domb, B. G. (2026). Dual Labral and Ligamentum Ter...

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