104 REGION OF THE NAPE OF THE NECK. 



tion without fracture may take place. In the space 

 between the first cervical vertebra and the occiput the 

 cord may be readily reached by a mere puncture. An 

 injury to the cord above the third would implicate the 

 phrenic nerve and paralyze the diaphragm, and give rise 

 to sudden asphyxia, causing instantaneous death. 



If the lower portion of the cervical cord be divided 

 there will be paralysis both of the upper and lower ex- 

 tremities, and the respiration would be entirely carried 

 on by the diaphragm. If the injury be opposite the 

 sixth cervical vertebra, there would be only partial par- 

 alysis of the upper extremity, owing to that portion of 

 the brachial plexus given off from the cord above this 

 spot being unimplicated. 



The cervical spine is occasionally the seat of spina 

 bifida, an arrest of development in which the spinous 

 processes or the laminae are absent or separated, allowing 

 of the bulging of the meninges beneath the integuments. 

 In spina bifida in this region, the spinal cord and its 

 nerves are generally adherent to the parietes of the 

 tumor. 



The relation of the structures passing through the 

 superior aperture of the thorax would seem to form a 

 suitable connection between the regions of the thorax and 

 neck. Supposing a section be made a decapitation, in 

 fact following a plane passing through the upper part 

 of the first dorsal vertebra behind, the upper borders of 

 the first ribs laterally, and the manubrium sterni ante- 

 riorly, the following structures would be seen passing 

 from before backwards, between the apices of the lungs. 

 In the middle line are the origins of the sterno-hyoid and 

 sterno-thyroid muscles, and a lax cellular tissue, in which 

 are the remains of the thymus gland and inferior thyroid 



