

THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM 



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the cervical region are divided the other way into ventral and 

 dorsal portions, which belong respectively to the like-named 

 divisions of the axial musculature and are hence morpholog- 

 ically distinct. The ventral cervical intertransversarii are in- 

 nerved by ventral branches, and are attached to the ventral or 

 rib element of the complex " transverse process " of the cervical 

 vertebrae. They are thus in the same series as the inter- 

 costals, and have been already treated in that connection. The 



FIG. 55. Muscles of the posterior cervical region (human). 



rj, rectus capitis posterior major; rn, rectus capitis posterior minor; os, obliquus 

 capitis superior; oi, obliquus capitis inferior, rl, rectus lateralis. Areas of origin on 

 the skull are indicated as follows: x, splenius; y, semi-spinalis colli; s, trapezius; OS, 

 obliquus capitis superior. The cervical vertebrae are indicated by Roman numerals. 



dorsal cervical intertransversarii, on the other hand, are in- 

 nerved by dorsal nerves and are thus serially homologous with 

 both portions of the intertransversarii of the lumbar region and 

 with the tendons which have replaced them in the thoracic 

 region. 



Between the axis and the skull, corresponding to the special- 

 ized motions needed in this place, there has developed a com- 

 plex group of little muscles, which are seemingly differentia- 



