LIGAMENTS OF THE SPINE. 269 



loped, but is represented by a few irregular fibres, passing from 

 one bone to the other. 



2. Articulation of the Spinous Processes. With the exception 

 of the neck, ligamentous fibres are found to occupy the spaces 

 between all the spinous processes, by passing from the spinous 

 process above, to the spinous process below. Muscles supply 

 their places in the neck, and in the upper part of the thorax. 

 These ligaments have much of a cellular structure above, but 

 in their descent they become more ligamentous and large, till, 

 in the loins, they assume a very decided character, and have a 

 quadrilateral shape. 



At the extremities of the spinous processes there is, also, a 

 ligamentous band, belonging to the dorsal and lumbar verte- 

 brae; commencing at the seventh cervical, it terminates on the 

 spinous processes of the sacrum. It is thin in the back, but on 

 the loins it is very thick, and so blended with the tendinous 

 origins of the muscles, that it is not very distinguishable from 

 them. The fibres of which it consists are of unequal lengths, 

 being extended between two, three, four, or five vertebrae, ac- 

 cordingly as the fibres are superficial or deep-seated. 



3. Owing to the shortness of the spinous processes of the 

 neck, an arrangement exists there called Ligamentum Nuchas, 

 (Ligament Cervical,) or the Descending Ligament of Diemer- 

 broeck. This ligament, though continuous with the one last 

 described, may be considered, for the sake of perspicuity, as 

 distinct. It begins, therefore, at the seventh cervical spine, as- 

 cends between the muscles of the opposite sides of the neck, and 

 is inserted into the posterior occipital protuberance. It is blend- 

 ed very much with the tendons of muscles, and is distinguished 

 from them with some difficulty, occasionally.. Its posterior mar- 

 gin is thick, but the anterior is a thin membranous expansion, 

 which runs to the ends of the spinous processes of the cervical 

 vertebra3, and to the vertical ridge of the occipital bone, lead- 

 ing from the occipital protuberance to the foramen magnum. 

 The ligamentum nuchre, therefore, forms a complete septum be- 

 t. veen the muscles of the opposite sides of the neck, and is con- 

 tinuous with the sheaths in which they play. In quadrupeds it 

 is remarkably strong ; but in man, who, from the proportions 



23* 



