JOINTS AND LIGAMENTS OF THE VERTEBRA 



203 



provided tho stifle joint is also flexed. Owing to the fact that the axis of motion 

 is slightly oblique, the lower part of the limb deviates somewhat outward during 

 flexion. 



The movements of the hock joint must correspond witli those of tlie stifle on account of the 

 tendinous hands in front and behind (peroneus tertius antl flexor perforatus), wliich extend from 

 the lower part of the femur to the tarsus and metatarsus. 



limb 



The remaining joints differ in no material respect from those of the thoracic 



COMPARATIVE ARTHROLOGY' 



JOINTS AND LIGAMENTS OF THE VERTEBRA 



Ox. — The ligamentum nuchse is better developed than in the horse. The 

 funicular part is clearly divided into two lateral halves, which are round at their 

 occipital attachment, but from the axis backward become rapidly wider and flat. 

 This wide portion is almost sagittal, lies on either side of the vertebral spines, and 

 is covered by the trapezius and rhomboideus muscles. From the highest part of 



Fir,. 167. — Ligamentum Nuch^ of Ox. 



a. Funicular part; h, wide portion; c. rf, lamellar part; e, interspinous ligaments; 1 , spinous process of first thoracic 



vertebra; .^, axis. (Ellenberger-Baum, Anat. d. Haustiere.) 



the withers (third thoracic spine) it gradually diminishes in size and fades out in 

 the lumbar region. The lamellar part is thick, and consists of anterior and pos- 

 terior parts. The anterior part is double; its fibers proceed from the funicular 

 part to the second, third, and fourth cervical spines. The posterior part is single; 

 its fibers extend from the first thoracic spine to the fifth, sixth, and seventh cervical 

 spines. 



The inferior common ligament is very strong in the lumbar region. 



The intervertebral fibro-cartilages are thicker than in the horse. 



The interspinous ligaments of the back and loins consist largely of elastic 

 tissue. 



' This section consists necessarily only of a brief statement of the most important differences 

 m the joints of the other animals. 



