THE MUSCULATURE OF THE TRUNK. 271 



wliicli the integuments have been removed, we notice 

 at about its middle a deep, longitudinal cleft, which 

 becomes shallower as it approaches its ends, and 

 finally flush with the general muscular surface of the 

 neck. The lateral borders of this cleft, at their 

 middles, show, beneath the enveloping and thin fascia, 

 each a longitudinal tendon. These are the mid-tendons 

 of the muscles we have now under consideration. 



A hiventer cervicis arises by a slight tendon from the 

 side of the neural spine of the first dorsal vertebra, 

 and from the neighbouring tendon of the longus colli 

 posticus muscle. This flattened tendon passes directly 

 up the back of the neck, closely applied against the last- 

 named muscle. 



At the end of rather more than two centimetres it 

 terminates in a flat spindle-shaped muscle, the tendon 

 beino- ao;ain resumed from the anterior end of the 

 same. This latter division of the tendon is that por- 

 tion which bounds the cleft above described, passing 

 which, once more a flat muscle is developed, which over- 

 lies the longus colli posticus anteriorly, and terminates 

 by being inserted into the occiput, to the outer side 

 of the occipital prominence, and between the inner 

 extremities of the insertions of the complexus and 

 rectus capitis posticus major (Fig. 4). 



In speaking of this muscle in the Apteryx, Owen 

 says : " A slender fasciculus is detached from the mesial 

 and dorsal margin of the longus colli posticus, near 

 the base of the neck, which soon terminates in a 

 long round tendon ; this tendon is traced down by 

 short aponeurotic fibres to the s^^ine of the fifth, 

 fourth, third, and second cervical vertebrae inclusive, 

 immediately beyond which it again becomes fleshy, 

 and expands to be inserted into the occipital ridge ; 



