138 



LIGAMENTS OF THE VERTEBRAL COLUMN. 



Fig. 72.' 



^ 



Fig. 73.| 



BODIES. The Anterior common ligament is a broad and riband-like 

 band of li^amentous fibres, extending along the front surface of the verte- 

 bral column, from the axis to the sacrum. It is intimately connected 



with the intervertebral substances, and 

 less closely with the bodies of the "ver- 

 tebra?. In the dorsal region it is thicker 

 than in the cervical and lumbar, 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 inter- 

 woven with each other ; the deeper and 

 shorter crossing the intervertebral sub- 

 stances from one vertebra to the next ; 

 and the superficial and longer fibres crossing three or four vertebrae. 



The anterior common ligament is in relation by its posterior or vertebral 

 surface., with the intervertebral substances, the bodies of the vertebra?, and 

 with the vessels, principally veins, which separate its central from its 

 lateral portions. By its anterior or visceral surface it is 

 in relation in the neck, with the longus colli muscles, the 

 pharynx and the o?sophagus ; in the thoracic region, 

 with the aorta, the venae azygos, and thoracic duct ; and 

 in the lumbar region with the aorta, right renal artery, 

 right lumbar arteries, arteria sacra media, vena cava in- 

 ferior, left lumbar veins, receptaculum chyli, the com- 

 mencement of the thoracic duct, and the tendons of the 

 lesser muscle of the diaphragm with the fibres of which 

 the ligamentous fibres interlace. 



The Posterior common ligament lies upon the posterior 

 surface of the bodies of the Vertebra?, and extends from 

 the axis to the sacrum. It is broad opposite the inter- 

 ffS jjfr vertebral substances, to which it is closely adherent ; ana 



^^ ^^ narrow and thick over the bodies of the vertebrae, from 

 which it is separated by -the veins of the base of the ver- 

 tebra?. It is composed like the anterior ligament of shorter and longei 

 fibres which are disposed in a similar manner. 



The posterior common ligament is in relation by its anterior surface 

 with the intervertebral substances, the bodies of the vertebra?, and with 

 the vena? basum vertebrarum ; and by its posterior surface with the dura 

 mater of the spinal cord, some loose areolar tissue and numerous small 

 veins being interposed. 



The intervertebral substance is a lenticular disc of fibrous cartilage, 



*The anterior ligaments of the vertebra?, and ligaments of the ribs. 1. The anterior 

 common ligament. 2. The anterior costo-vertebral or stellate ligarpent. 3. The ante- 

 rior costo-transverse ligament. 4. The interarticular ligament connecting the head of 

 the rib to the intervertebral substance, and separating the two synovial membranes of 

 this arti'-iila'inn. 



j- A p;>n-rior view of l\ie bodies of three dorsal verfebnr, connected by their intorver- 

 tebral substance 1, 1. The lamina' (2) have been sawn through near the bodies of the 

 vertr-brv. and thf. arches and processes removed, in order to show (D) the posterior 

 common ligament. A part of one of the openings in the posterior surface of the ver- 

 tebra-, for the transmission of the vena basis vertebra?, is seen at 4, by the side of the 

 narrow and unattached portion of the ligament. 





