LIGAMENTS OF VERTEBRAE. 



IJ)3 



the vertebrae is laid bare ; but if the canal should not be open, 

 for any reason, the neural arches of the vertebrae are to be removed 

 by 'sawing through the pedicles. 



The remaining ligaments between the neural arches, spines, and 

 articular processes of the bones may be dissected on the piece taken 

 away in opening the spinal canal. 



LIGAMENTS OF THE BODIES. The bodies of the vertebrae are 

 united by an anterior and a posterior common ligament with an 

 intervening piece of fibre-cartilage. 



The anterior common ligament (fig. 178, a) reaches from the axis 

 to the sacrum. It is narrow above and wide below ; and it also 

 increases in thickness from above downwards. Its fibres are 

 longitudinal ; and by detaching parts of the ligament, the super- 

 ficial ones will be seen to extend over three or four vertebrae, while 



The bodies 

 are united 

 by:- 



Anterior 

 common 

 ligament : 



form and 

 thickness ; 



extent of 

 fibres; 



FlG. 179 A. 



FIG. 179 



T\vo VIEWS OP THE POSTERIOR COMMON LIGAMENT, c, TO SHOW THE 



DIFFERENCE IN SHAPE, A, IN THE NECK, AND B, IN THE LOINS. 



the deepest pass from one bone to the next. More of the fibres are and mode ot 

 attached to the intervertebral discs than to the bones ; and few or a 

 none are fixed to the centre of the bodies. The ligament bridges 

 over the transverse hollows on the vertebral bodies, and renders the 

 front of the column smooth and even. 



On each side, over the part uncovered by the anterior common Short lateral 

 ligament, the bodies of the vertebras are united by a thin layer of res ' 

 short fibres (fig. 178, 6). 



The posterior common ligament (fig. 179) is contained in the Posterior 

 spinal canal, lying on the back of the vertebral bodies from Hgment: 

 the axis to the sacrum. It is much thinner than the anterior, 

 and, unlike that, is broad above and narrow below. It is form ; 

 wider opposite the intervertebral disc than on the bodies, so that 

 the margins are dentate. In the neck (A) it covers nearly the whole 

 breadth of the bodies ; but in the dorsal and lumbar regions (B) it 

 is a narrow band, which sends off a pointed process on each side to 

 be attached to the intervertebral disc and the upper margin of the 



