708 



DISSECTION OF THE NECK. 



are 



described 



elsewhere. 



Special 



ligaments 



between 

 tirst two 

 vertebra 

 and occipi- 

 tal bone. 



Directions. The common ligaments will be best seen on the dorsa' = 

 or lumbar portion of the spine, where they are more stronglj 

 developed ; their preparation and description will be found at the 

 end of the thorax, with the description of the ligaments of the spine | 

 (pp. 492 to 498). Should the student examine them in the neckj 

 to see their difference in this region, he should leave uncut the neuraln 

 arches of the upper two vertebrae, to which special ligaments are! 

 attached. 



SPECIAL LIGAMENTS unite the first two cervical vertebra) to eacl 

 other and to the occipital bone : some of these are external to, and| 

 others within the spinal canal. 



The ligaments outside the spinal canal are fibrous membranes,! 

 which connect the axis to the atlas, and the latter to the occipital 



FIG. 251. EXTERNAL LIGAMENTS IN FRONT BETWEEN THE OCCIPITAL BONE, 

 ATLAS, AND Axis. (Bourgery.) 



1. Sawn basilar process. 



2. Capsule of articulation between 

 occipital bone and atlas, internal to 

 which is the anterior occipito-atlantal 



ligament. 



3. Anterior atlanto-axial. 



4. Lateral articulation between the 

 atlas and axis opened. 



Anterior 

 ligament 

 between 

 atlas and 

 axis, 



bone in front and behind. Capsular ligaments also surround the 

 articulations formed by these bones on each side, but they will be 

 examined more conveniently after the spinal canal has been opened. 

 The anterior atlanto-axial ligament (fig. 251, 3 ) consists of a mem- 

 branous layer attached to the anterior arch of the atlas and the body 

 of the axis, and a superficial thickened band in the centre, prolonged 

 from the upper end of the anterior common ligament, and connect- 

 ing the ridge on the front of the axis to the tubercle on the anterior 

 arch of the altas. 



and between The anterior occipito-atlantal ligament (fig. 251, 2 ) resembles the 



ocdpfta? foregoing, and passes from the basilar process of the occipital bone, 



bone. immediately in front of the foramen magnum, to the anterior arch 



of the atlas. Its central part is also thickened, and is fixed to the 



tubercle on the front of the atlas. 



