For the upper part is the more honourable, and
is that for the sake of which the rest exists; while the lower part
exists for the sake of the upper and constitutes the necessary element
in the body, inasmuch as it is the recipient of the food.
That portion of the midriff which is near the ribs is fleshier and
stronger than the rest, but the central part has more of a
membranous character; for this structure conduces best to its strength
and its extensibility. Now that the midriff, which is a kind of
outgrowth from the sides of the thorax, acts as a screen to prevent
heat mounting up from below, is shown by what happens, should it,
owing to its proximity to the stomach, attract thence the hot and
residual fluid. For when this occurs there ensues forthwith a marked
disturbance of intellect and of sensation. It is indeed because of
this that the midriff is called Phrenes, as though it had some share
in the process of thinking (Phronein). in reality, however, it has
no part whatsoever itself in the matter, but, lying in close proximity
to organs that have, it brings about the manifest changes of
intelligence in question by acting upon them. This too explains why
its central part is thin. For though this is in some measure the
result of necessity, inasmuch as those portions of the fleshy whole
which lie nearest to the ribs must necessarily be fleshier than the
rest, yet besides this there is a final cause, namely to give it as
small a proportion of humour as possible; for, had it been made of
flesh throughout, it would have been more likely to attract and hold a
large amount of this.
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