THORACIU ARTICULATIONS., 359 
The superior costo-vertebral ligament connects the head of each rib to 
tha sides of the bodies of the vertebre, and is divided into three bundles, 
of which one bundle (the middle) passes to the corresponding interver- 
tebral fibro-cartilage, whilst the anterior passes to the body of the vertebra 
before, the posterior to the body of the vertebra behind. This ligament 
is called the superior stellate ligament. From the inferior surface of the 
Fig. 4.—Suerriok View OF CosTo-VERTEBRAL ARTICULATIONS. 
A. A. A. &. Points where the vertebral arches %, 2. &. Superior costo-vertebral or stellate 
are removed in order to expose, ligament. 
1. 1. &e. Superior common vertebral ligament. 3. 3. 3. &c. Superior costo-transverse ligament. 
B. B. &e. Transverse processes. 
neck there is a ligament, which is disposed in the same way inferiorly as 
the foregoing is superiorly, in attaching the ribs to the bodies of the 
vertebrae. ‘This is called the inferior stellate ligament. 
The wnter-articular ligament, or ligamentum teres, consists of a thin 
bundle of longitudinal fibres, and arises from the ridge dividing the two 
articular surfaces on the head of the rib from which it passes to be 
implanted on the side of the intervertebral substance. 
There are two distinct synovial capsules—an anterior and a posterior— 
set back to back, and separated by the inter-articular ligament. 
THE COSTO-TRANSVERSE ARTICULATION.—On the superior surface of the 
tubercle of the rib is a smooth convex articular surface, which is in 
apposition with a smooth concave surface, situated on the transverse 
process. 
Two ligaments strengthen this articulation. %rst, the posterior costo- 
transverse ligament consists of a short fasciculus of fibres, which passes 
from the posterior surface of the summit of the transverse process, 
to the rough surface uncovered by cartilage at the postero-lateral part of 
the tubercle. Secondly, the anterior transverse costal ligament is formed 
of a bundle of white, thick, short fibres, which take a course from the 
anterior surface of the transverse process near its base, to the excavation 
which is close to the neck of the rib. This ligament is clothed behind by 
synovial membrane, and in front by adipose tissue, which separates it 
from the costo-vertebral articulation. 
The last two, namely, the 17th and 18th costo-transverse articulations 
are confounded with the corresponding costo-vertebral joints, 
