104 LIGAMENTS OP THE TRUNK. 



ARTICULATIONS. 



The joints may be arranged, according to a natural division, 

 into those of the trunk, those of the upper extremity, and those of 

 the lower extremity. 



LIGAMENTS or THE TRUNK. The articulations of the trunk are 

 divisible into nine groups, viz. 



1. Of the vertebral column. 



2. Of the atlas with the occipital bone. 



3. Of the axis, with the occipital bone. 



4. Of the atlas, with the axis. 



5. Of the lower jaw. 



6. Of the ribs, with the vertebrae. 



7. Of the ribs, with the sternum, and with each other. 



8. Of the vertebral column, with the pelvis. 



9. Of the pelvis. 



1. Articulation of the Vertebral Column. The ligaments connect- 

 ing together the different pieces of the vertebral column, admit of 

 the same arrangement with that of the vertebras themselves. Thus 

 the ligaments 



Of the bodies are the Anterior common ligament. 



Posterior common ligament. 



Intervertebral substance. 



Of the arches, Ligamenta subflava. 



Of the articular processes, Capsular ligaments. 



Synovial membranes. 



Of the spinous processes, Inter-spinous. 



Supra-spinous. 



Of the transverse processes, Inter-transverse. 



BODIES. The anterior common ligament is a broad and riband- 

 like band of ligamentous fibres, extending along the front surface of 

 the vertebral column, from the axis to the sacrum. It is intimately 

 connected with the intervertebral substances, and less closely with 

 the bodies of the vertebrae. 



The anterior common ligament is thicker in the dorsal than in 

 the cervical and lumbar regions, and consists of a median and two 

 lateral portions separated from each other by a series of openings 

 for the passage of vessels. The ligament is composed of fibres of 

 various length closely interwoven with each other ; the deeper and 

 shorter crossing the intervertebral substances from one vertebra to 

 the next; and the superficial and longer fibres crossing three or 

 four vertebras. 



Relations. The anterior common ligament is in relation by its 

 posterior or vertebral surface, with the intervertebral substances, the 



