THE MUSCULATURE OF THE TRUNK. 267 



125. The flexor capitis inferior^ (Figs. 3, 4, and 67) 

 might almost be described as an " azygos muscle," so 

 intimately blended are the two in the median line. 



It arises in common with the rectus capitis anticus 

 minor from the apices of the hypapophyses of the second, 

 third, and fourth cervical vertebrae, and in the pre- 

 sent instance either the fascia or a delicate tendinous 

 slip may even come off from the corresponding point 

 on the atlas. The thin tendons of origin of this muscle 

 soon become carneous as they pass forwards in some- 

 what of a bulky mass, uniting with the fellow of the 

 opposite side, to their insertion. This latter occupies 

 the entire triangular area offered by the basitemporal 

 of the base of the cranium, the bounding lines of the 

 muscle taking form therefrom, and in accordance there- 

 with. 



This muscle in its action is a direct flexor of the 

 head upon the neck, whereas the rectus capitis anticus 



1 As a rule this muscle has been considered to be one of the recti 

 muscles rather than a flexor of the head upon the neck which I 

 really conceive it to be. Its synonyms are tlius recorded by Gadow 

 {loc. cit., p. 120) :— 



"15. M. RECTUS CAPITIS ANTICUS MAJOR S. MEDIALIS. 



Le muscle (droit et) moyen de la tele. Vicq d'Azyr, 1773, p. 582, 



No. 5. 

 Kopfbieger (pt.). Merrem. 

 Langer Kopfbeuger (pt.). Wiedemann, p. 76. 



Mittlerer Kopfbeuger (Flexor medius capitis). Tiedemann, § 209. 

 Droit anterieur. Cuvier. 



„ „ Gervais et Alix, p. 15. 



Alix, p. 382. 

 Rectus capitis anticus major. Gurlt, p. 17 : Owen, Proc. Zool. Soc, 



1842, p. 29 ; Watson, p. 64. 

 Recti capitis antici {major et minor). Selenka, p. 100, No. 20. 

 Vorderer, grosser, gerader Kopfmuskel. Meckel, System, p. 299, 



No. 3." 



