2018CohenY

Fragments of the article Cohen Y. An Old Babylonian List of Sheep Body Parts (BM 29663) (2018).

Introduction

The article translates the Akkadian text of a clay tablet (BM 29663) from Mesopotamia in the Old Babylonian period (2000-1600 BCE), it is a list of sheep body parts and inner organs. Probably, the document was created to help the Mesopotamian Diviner. The author of the text on the clay tablet is unknown.

Quotes selected that mention LCF

Quote 1. P. 132

«10) 10. ni-im-šu»

Quote 2. P. 135

«10. ni-im-šu → nimšu, “sciatic nerve”, “sinew” (CAD N/2 235 [1992RothMT]; CAD Š/2 309 [1992RothMT]; Starr 1983, 64».

Keywords

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

Original Article

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]

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). Yoram Cohen identified the anatomical term «ni-im-šu» (ni-im-shu) in the cuneiform Akkadian text (frontside, line №10). This concept, from the translator’s point of view, can mean «sciatic nerve» or «sinew» of a sheep. The first work devoted to the study of this tablet was published by the author in 2016 (2016CohenY). Based on our translation analysis, the Akkadian concept «ni-im-šu» inscribed on the tablet BM 29663 denotes the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF). This is likely the first written mention of LCF in human history, dating back to 2000-1600 BCE. The anatomical element «ni-im-šu» was known to the creators of the ancient Hebrew literary monument «Bereshit», translated into English as «Genesis». The ancient Hebrew term for LCF was «גיד» (gheed, gid) (Bereshit 32:33; 1923,2004PreussJ; 2019ArkhipovSV_SkvortsovDV; 2020ArkhipovSV_ProlyginaIV).

References

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]

Bereshit, Chapter 32:33 [chabad.org]

Arkhipov SV, Skvortsov DV. Ligamentum capitis femoris: first written mentions. MLTJ. 2019;9(2)156–64. [researchgate.net(PDF) , mltj.online]

Arkhipov SV, Prolygina IV. Ancient Textual Sources on Ligamentum Teres: Context and Transmission. MLTJ. 2020;10(3):536-546. doi:10.32098/mltj.03.2020.27 [mltj.online , mltj.online(PDF) , researchgate.net]

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, 1992; CAD N/2. [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; CAD Š/2. [oi.uchicago.edu]

Starr I. The rituals of the Diviner. Bibliotheca Mesopotamica 12. Malibu: Undena Publication, 1983.

. .

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

BLOG CONTENT

PRE-SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE

Comments

1916WalmsleyT

Article by Walmsley T. A note on the retinacula of Weitbrecht (1916). The author discusses the embryonic development and relationships of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) in humans and animals. A NOTE ON THE RETINACULA OF WEITBRECHT. By THOMAS WALMSLEY, M.B., Senior Demonstrator in Anatomy, University of Glasgow. The synovial membrane of the hip-joint is in extent and attachment similar to that of other diarthroses, but the retinacula of Weitbrecht (or ligaments of Stanley) lend to it a special interest. These retinacula are readily recognized on the interior of the capsule as flattened bands passing inwards towards the margin of the head of the femur from the attachment of the peripheral capsule. The following description of their constitution may be selected as expressive of current opinion. The retinacula are arranged in three groups, superior, middle, and inferior: structurally, they are synovial covered capsular reflections: morphologic...

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...

1914JonesFW_MorrisH

We are publishing a chapter from the fifth edition of «Morris's Human Anatomy» (1914). A significant portion of it is dedicated to the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF). The original text has been edited by Wood Jones. Particularly notable are the illustrations depicting the LCF. Some of them are improved drawings by the first author ( 1879MorrisH ). Quote pp. 276-284 1. THE HIP-JOINT Class. — Diarthrosis. Subdivision. — Enarthrodia. The hip is the most typical example of a ball-and-socket joint in the body, the round head of the femur being received into the cup-shaped cavity of the acetabulum. Both articular surfaces are coated with cartilage, that covering the head of the femur being thicker above where it has to bear the weight of the body, and thinning out to a mere edge below; the pit for the ligamentum teres is the only part uncoated, but the cartilage is somewhat heaped up around its margin. Covering the acetabulum, the cartilage is horseshoe-shaped, a...

1861HoldenL

Fragments from the book Holden L. Human Osteology (1861). The author discusses the attachment and anatomy of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) . In some cases, we have added links to quotations about LCF available on our resource, as well as to publications posted on the Internet. Quote pp. 1 66-167 Acetabulum. Lastly, we come to the "acetabulum." This is so named from its resemblance to an ancient vinegar cup. Observe its great depth and hemispherical form adapted for the secure lodgement of the head of the thigh-bone, and for more or less movement in any direction. It looks downwards and outwards so as to transmit the weight of the trunk directly on to the head of the thigh-bone; and the upper or iliac portion of it is by far the thickest and strongest, since it has to support the whole weight of the trunk in the erect posture. All these points are of interest, because they are characteristic of the human skeleton. There are two notches in the margin or "br...

LCF in 2025 (January)

LCF in 2025 (January) : Quotes from articles and books published in March 2025 mentioning the ligamentum capitis femoris. Alany, A. M. S., Rasul, D., Berzenji, A. I. H., & Berzenji, A. (2025). Early Outcomes of Arthroscopic Versus Open Reduction for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip in Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Cureus , 17 (1). [i] assets.cureus.com Lovelace, D. M., Kufner, A. M., Fitch, A. J., Curry Rogers, K., Schmitz, M., Schwartz, D. M., ... & Teran, R. (2025). Rethinking dinosaur origins: oldest known equatorial dinosaur-bearing assemblage (mid-late Carnian Popo Agie FM, Wyoming, USA). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 203 (1), zlae153. [ii] academic.oup.com Rashwan, A. S., El-Desouky, M., Elbarbary, H., Madbouly, M. A. E., & Khedr, A. (2025). Arthroscopic-assisted reduction for Developmental Hip Dysplasia (DDH) through the sub-adductor ...

14c.Chora_Church

Chora Church (Mosque) in Istanbul, fresco – «Jacob Wrestling with the Angel» (14th cent.). 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 – «Jacob Wrestling with the Angel» (14th cent.) fresco Cho...

16с.Archangel_Michael

Icon «Michael the Archangel (in deeds)», stigma «The struggle of Jacob with the angel» (16th cent.). 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 – Icon «Michael the Archangel (in deeds)»...

Who, When, and Where Wrote the Book of Genesis?

Who, When, and Where Wrote the Book of Genesis? A Medical Hypothesis By Sergey V. Arkhipov, MD, PhD & Lyudmila N. Arkhipova, BSN CONTENT [i] Abstract [ii] Introduction [iii] Egyptian physician [iv] Asian diviner [v] Conclusion [vi] References [vii] Application [i] Abstract The Book of Genesis is an example of an ancient literary text that contains important medical insights. We propose that it was written in northern Egypt in the late 17th century BCE, approximately ten years after the Minoan eruption. The protograph likely emerged from the collaboration between an Asiatic seer, who rose to the rank of an Egyptian official, and an Egyptian physician-encyclopedist. By refining its dating and authorship, this hypothesis positions Genesis as a credible source of medical and historical data, thereby enhancing its value for interdisciplinary research. [ii] Introduction According to Rabbinic Judais...

150-200Pseudo-Galen

Fragment from the treatise Pseudo-Galen Introduction, or the Physician ( Εἰσαγωγὴ ἢ Ἰτρός ; Introductio, seu Medicus; ca. 150-200 [our opinion]). The author notes the connecting function of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) and also specifies the proximal and distal attachment sites. See our commentary at the link: 150-200Pseudo-Galen [Rus]. Quote [Grc] Εἰσαγωγὴ ἢ Ἰτρός . K εφ . ιβ . [ Περί όστεολογἰας .] μηρου δέ έν μεν οστούν . συμβάλλει δε επικεκαμμένη μετρίως τη κεφαλή αυτού εις βαθείαν κοτύλην του ισχίου και νεύρῳ απήρτηται εκφυομένω εκ μέσης της κοτύλης και εμφυομένω εις μέσην την κεφαλήν του μηρού . (original source: 1827KühnCG, pp. 723-724) [Lat Introductio, seu Medicus. Cap. XII. [De osteologia] Femoris os unum est, cujus caput leniter reflexum in coxae profundum sinum conjicitur. Quam commissuram nervus, qui e medio sinu prodit et in medium femoris caput inseritur, continet. (original source: 1827KühnCG, pp. 723-724) Translation [Eng] Introduction, or the Phy...

1740KulmusJA

Fragments from the book Kulmus JA. Tables anatomiques (1734). The author briefly writes about the anatomy, properties and attachment of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF). There are known translations of the treatise into Latin ( 1732KulmusJA ) and French ( 1734KulmusJA ). Quote p. 51 [Deu] Translation [Eng] с . In the upper part of the head there is a recess in which the round ligament is attached. Quote p. 54 [Deu] Translation [Eng] 2.) The round ligament is short but very strong; it arises at the bottom of the acetabulum and joins the fossa at the top of the femoral condyle. External links Kulmus JA. Anatomische Tabellen: Nebst dazu gehörigen Anmerckungen und Kupffern, Daraus des gantzen Menschlichen Cörpers Beschaffenheit und Nutzen deutlich zu ersehen; Welche Den Anfängern der Anatomie zu bequemer Anleitung verfasset hat… Nuremberg, Frankfort, Leipzig: J.A. von Creutz, MDCCXXXX [1740]. [ archive.org ] Authors & Affiliations Johann Adam Kulmus (...

Search This Blog