MUSCLES OF THE BODY'. 123 



yy, (i), and near the origin with the rectus abdominis (Fig. 

 73, /t), the scalenus (Fig. 73, /-/'")> ^"*^ ^he obhquus externus 

 (Fig. 6S, f). Inner (medial) surface with the serratus posterior 

 superior (Fig. yz, I) and its tendon, and with the intercostalcs 

 extcrni (Fig. 73, vi). At its insertion the muscle touches the 

 rhomboidcus. The cranial edge is united to the caudal edge 

 of the levator scapula; (Fig. y^^, h). 



Action. — Depressor of the scapula. 



M. levator scapulae (Fig. 73, h). 



Origin. — From the dorsal tubercles of the transverse pro- 

 cesses of the last five cervical vertebrae and from the ligaments 

 between the tubercles. A slip sometimes arises from the atlas. 



Insertion (Fig. y%, d) into a triangular area on the medial 

 surface of the scapula near its vertebral border. It is continu- 

 ous with the insertion of the serratus anterior. 



Relations. — Outer (lateral) surface with a mass of fat sep- 

 arating it from the clavotrapezius (Fig. 6?,, d) and cleidomas- 

 toid (Fig. 65, //), and with the subscapularis (Fig. yy, a). 

 Inner (medial) surface with the splenius (Fig. yT^, b), the tendon 

 of the serratus posterior superior (Fig. yT,, I), and the cervical 

 portion of the longissimus dorsi (Fig. 6g,f"). Near the inser- 

 tion the muscle touches the occipitoscapularis (Fig. 73, d) and 

 rhomboideus. Caudal border united with the serratus anterior 

 (Fig. 73, /). 



Action. — Draws the scapula cranioventrad. 



B. Muscles of the Back (interconnecting parts of the 

 vertebral column) (Fig. 69). — The muscles connected with the 

 vertebral column form a mass which is less markedly differen- 

 tiated into distinct muscles than is the case in the limbs. A 

 great longitudinal mass of fibres begins in the sacral region and 

 extends along the vertebral column to the head. This mass 

 contains fibres running in various directions and attached at one 

 or both ends to the sacrum, the innominate bones, the spinous, 

 transverse, and articular processes, and to the arches, of the ver- 

 tebr^u; to the ribs and to the head, and having in general the 

 function of moving the vertebrae in various ways, or of moving 

 parts connected with the vertebrae. In some regions, especially 

 the cervical, it is possible to distinguish clearly distinct muscles 



