268 SKELETON. 



Iy from one vertebra, to another which is contiguous. These 

 fibres have different directions, and cross each other at acute 

 angles; they adhere very closely to the fibro-cartilaginous mat- 

 ter, and leave interstices between themselves, through which 

 the anterior vertebral ligament adheres to the same substance. 

 Moreover, there are at the sides of the bodies of the vertebrae, 

 a number of short straight fibres, passing from the edge of the 

 bone above to the edge of the bone below. 



3. Posterior Vertebral Ligament, (Ligamentum Commune 

 Posterius, Ligament Vertebral Posterieur.) This is placed on 

 the hind part of the bodies of the vertebra, within the spinal 

 canal, and extends from the cuneiform process of the occiput 

 just beyond the foramen magnum, to the os coccygis. It is 

 more narrow and thick in the thoracic vertebrae than else- 

 where. At each inter-vertebral substance it increases in 

 breadth and adheres more closely, whereas, opposite the body 

 of a vertebra it is narrower and more loose, by which arrange- 

 ment a kind of serrated or unequal edge is formed on each 

 side. 



This ligament is more dense and compact than the anterior, 

 and presents a smooth, shining surface, resembling a tendinous 

 expansion. Its fibres, also, do not run individually the whole 

 length of the spine, but are in laminae; the more superficial of 

 which have their fibres inserted into the fourth or fifth inter- 

 vertebral substance or vertebra, below their origin. The mid- 

 dle laminae are inserted into the second or third below, and the 

 deeply seated into the first below. The blood vessels do not 

 penetrate the ligament, but pass by its sides into the vertebrae. 

 The superior extremity of this ligament going from the second 

 vertebra to the margin of the foramen magnum, is sometimes 

 considered as distinct. 



Ligaments of the Processes of the Vertebrce. 



1. Articulation of the Oblique Processes. These processes 

 are faced with cartilage, and a synovial capsule is displayed 

 upon them so as to shut up completely the cavity of the articu- 

 lation. The capsular ligament is not uniform and fully deve- 



