LIGAMENTS OF THE NECK. 357 
situated just below the crest of the occiput. It is covered superiorly by 
a mass of thick adipo-fibrous tissue, much developed in low-bred animals. 
Inferiorly it gives off the lamellary portion, which is composed of two 
plates united by cellular membrane. These lie between the two sets of 
muscles, and give off six tongues or slips, which unite with the spines of 
the six posterior cervical vertebrae, mixing with the fibres of the inter- 
spinous ligaments. 
Tue ATLAS IS UNITED TO THE OccIPUT by lateral ligaments, which bind 
its articular surfaces to the condyles of the bone—also by two inferior 
ligaments and synovial capsules. 
” The two lateral ligaments, broad and membranous, arise from the supero- 
lateral border of the arch of the atlas, and are attached to the sides of 
the condyles of the occiput, or rather between the condyles and the 
styloid processes. 
The long inferior ligament arises from the tubercle on the inferior sur- 
face of the atlas, and is attached to the basilar process of the occiput. 
The short inferior ligament arises from the tubercle on the inferior sur- 
face of the atlas, is attached to the foramen 
magnum of the occiput, and is connected with 
the theca vertebralis. 
A thin fibrous ligament (Zhe occipito-atlord) 
surrounds the entire articulation ; it is attached 
anteriorly to the condyles of the occiput, and 
posteriorly to the articulatory surface of the 
atlas. This membrane is thin and elastic in- 
feriorly ; superiorly it is formed of two bundles 
of fibres, which cross one another like the 
letter X. Internally it is lined by synovial 
membrane. 
THE AXIS, OR VERTEBRA DENTATA, is united to 
the atlas, and partially also to the occiput, as 
follows :— 
1. Articular surfaces are formed on the odon- 
toid process of the axis, and also on the sides of 
its body close to the root of that part. These 
correspond with similar faces on the inside of 
the ring of the atlas, and also on its posterior 
side. 
2. The ligaments connecting the rings of the 
two vertebree together, or the superior and inferior 5, 5 supunron ViEW OF THR 
atlo-axoid ligaments. The former represent the —Jormrs rormep perween THE 
interspinous ligaments of the other vertebrae Nyce any nyevoen une Atte 
—hbeing yellow, elastic, and formed of two np Occrrur. 
layers, which are continuous with the capsular a, superior fibres of the occipito- 
ligaments—the latter is a large thin band, which 5, ,4),201¢ Hsament. 
is stretched from the inferior face of the axis ©. Vertebra dentata, showing the 
to the inferior spine of the atlas, lying concealed speTiOn, Atlee rcie eee 
by the longus colii muscle. Besides these two a Third cervical vertebra. 
ie ; : . I’. Transverse processes of den- 
ligaments there is also a capsular ligament, 
which commences from the sides of the superior 
atlo-axoid ligament, and after uniting with the borders of the odontoid 
ligament is confounded with the fibres of the inferior atlo-axoid. In fact, 
it is a mesh of white fibrous tissue connecting the three together. 
3. The odontoid ligaments, which are covered by the superior atlo-axoid 
tata. 
1. 1. Odontoid ligament. 
