136 



ARTICULATIOXS OF THE TRUXK. 



The joints of the articulating processes present each a synovial 

 cavity surrounded by an irregular fibrous capsule. The fibrous bands 



Fig. 120. Fig. 120. — The Arcues op three Dorsal Veu- 



TEBK.E, SEKN FROM BEFORE. ^ 



The bodies of tlie vertebrre have been removed by 

 sawing througli the pedicles, to show the articular 

 capsules and the ligameuta subflava. 



of these capsules are long-er and looser in 

 the cervical than in the dorsal and lumbar 

 regions. 



The ligamenta subflava arc ligaments 

 consisting of yellow elastic tissue, ^vhich 

 connect the laminw of the vertebras. Their 

 fibres are nearly vertical, and are attached 

 superiorly to the anterior surface of the 

 lamina of one vertebra near its inferior margin, and inferiorly to the 

 upper margin and part of the posterior surface of the lamina of the 



Fig. 121. 



Fig. 121. — Antero-Posterior Vertical Sec- 

 tion OP THE UPPER PART OF THE VERTEBRAL 



Column, and part of the Occipital Bone, 

 SHOWING the Articulations. (A. T. after 

 Arnold. ) 



1, 1, anterior common ligament of the bodies 

 of the vertebrai ; 1', anterior atlanto-occipital 

 ligament ; 2, from this figure upwards the pos- 

 terior common ligament of the bodies ; 2', the 

 continuation of the preceding or apparatus liga- 

 meatosus lying on the basilar process of the 

 occipital bone ; 3, 3, 3, these figures are placed 

 on the inside of the arches of the 2nd cervical 

 and Lst and Gth dorsal vertebrie ; the ligamenta 

 .subflava are to be seen stretching between the 

 laminas ; 4, 4, jilaced upon two of the int^r- 

 .spinous ligaments ; 4' divided edge of the 

 occipital bone behind the foramen magnum, and 

 below it, tlie posterior occipito-atlantal ligament ; 

 5, 5, supraspinous ligaments ; 6, ligamentum 

 nuchra ; -I- , its upper extremity at the occipital 

 tuberosity ; + -|- , its lower extremity terminat- 

 ing in the supra.spinous ligaments of the upper 

 dorsal vertebrre. 



vertebra beneath. They are most dis- 

 tinctly seen when the arches are de- 

 tached from the bodies of the vertebrw, 

 and they are viewed from the front. 

 Posteriorly they appear short, and in 

 the dorsal region are concealed by the 

 promment inferior margins of the 

 lammas and the roots of the spines. 

 Their outer margins are close to the 

 articulating processes ; their inner margins are thickened and in contact 

 with each other beneath the root of the spinous process. 



The ligamenta subflava do not exist between the occiput and the 



