198 ANATOMY OF THE RABBIT 



greater cornu (cornu majus) is a larger element extending obliquely 

 dorsad, and similarly suspended from the jugular process by the 

 stylohyoideus major muscle. The connection of the lesser cornu 

 with the styloid process through the stylohyoideus minor replaces 

 the stylohyoid ligament of the human skull and the chain of ele- 

 ments commonly occurring in mammals and other vertebrates in 

 this region. In most mammals the term "lesser", as applied to it, 

 is inappropriate. The lesser cornu, the styloid process, and their 

 connections, together with the hyoid bone itself, indicate the 

 relation of the embryonic hyoid arch, from which the skeletal 

 structures in question are derived. The greater cornu belongs 

 to the succeeding visceral arch, and is connected with the superior 

 cornu of the thyreoid cartilage of the larynx by the lateral hyo- 

 thyreoid ligament. This cornu is commonly represented in mammals 

 by a small thyreohyal process. 



THE SKELETON OF THE ANTERIOR LIMB 



The skeleton of the anterior limb is divisible into two portions, 

 namely, a proximal portion, comprising the scapula and the 

 clavicle, and a distal portion, comprising the supports of the 

 free extremity. The scapulae and clavicles of the two sides 

 together form the pectoral girdle. The pectoral girdle is lightly 

 constructed and, apart from its muscular connections, which 

 constitute its main support, is directly attached to the axial 

 skeleton only through the sternoclavicular ligament. This arrange- 

 ment may be regarded as providing a shock-absorbing mechanism. 



The skeleton of the free extremity is divisible into proximal, 

 middle, and distal segments. The proximal segment contains a 

 single bone, the humerus; the middle segment two elements, the 

 radius and ulna; while the distal segment comprises, in addition 

 to the accessory sesamoid bones, twenty-eight elements of the 

 regular series, of which nine form the carpus, five the metacarpus, 

 and fourteen the phalanges of the digits. 



The positions occupied by the principal parts in the natural 

 state are shown in Fig. 23. 



The Scapula 

 The scapula (Fig. 92) is a somewhat triangular plate of bone 

 lying, in the natural position, on the lateral surface of the anterior 



