102 REGION OF THE NAPE OF THE NECK. 



cervical plexus are seen, passing upwards (small occipi- 

 tal) along the posterior border of the sterno-mastoid, 

 forwards (great auricular and transverse cervical) across 

 it, and downwards (descending cervical). There are a 

 great many lymphatic ganglia along the posterior border 

 of the muscle, and the integument is very tough and 

 fibrous. 



KEGION OF THE NAPE OF THE NECK (POSTERIOR 

 CERVICAL REGION). 



This region extends from the occipital tuberosity and 

 superior curved lines above, to the seventh cervical ver- 

 tebra below, and is bounded laterally by the trapezius. 

 The spinous processes of the three last can be felt through 

 the integument, the seventh receiving the name of ver- 

 tebra prominens. The integument is very tough and 

 strong, containing a great deal of fibrous tissue, and not 

 very vascular, and is a favorite seat of abscess or car- 

 buncle ; the subcutaneous cellular tissue contains a good 

 deal of fat, and is united to the ligamentum nuchse, a 

 tough fibro-elastic mass extending from the occipital 

 tubercle to the seventh cervical vertebra, separating the 

 muscles on either side of the neck. Beneath the apo- 

 neuroses lie the trapezius, the aponeurotic attachment of 

 which superiorly is blended with that of the sterno-mas- 

 toid ; and separating these muscles from the succeeding 

 layer is a dense fascia, continuous with the dorsal apo- 

 neurosis, beneath which are found the splenius capitis 

 and the levator anguli scapulae, the upper portion of the 

 rhomboidei, and serratus posticus superior; next the 

 complexus, the trachelo-mastoid, and transversalis colli. 

 In the fat and cellular tissue beneath this layer are 



