THE ODONTOID LIGAMENTS. 711 



Dissection (tig. 254). After the removal of the long occipito-axial Dissection 

 ligament, by cutting through it transversely above, and reflecting Jerse""" 

 wmvards, the student should define a strong band, the trans- 

 ligament, which crosses the neck of the odontoid process, and 

 sends upwards and downwards a slip to the occipital bone, and the 

 axis. The upper offset from the transverse ligament may be cut 

 through afterwards for the purpose of seeing the odontoid ligaments, 

 which radiate from the process, the central one being a slender band andodontoid 

 in the middle line, and the lateral, much stronger, passing nearly llgaDD 

 horizontally outwards. 



The transverse lujam'-nt of the atlas (fig. 254, ' 2 and fig. 255, ! ) is a TO fix 

 strong arched band behind the odontoid process, which is attached J^^ d 

 on each side to a tubercle on the inner surface of the lateral mass is the 

 of the atlas, below the fore part of the upper articular process. The 

 ligament is rounded at each end, but flattened and wider in the 

 middle ; and at this spot it has a band of longitudinal fibres con- also named 

 witii its upper and lower margins (fig. 254, 2 ) so as to produce cruclform - 



255. ATLAS WITH THE TRANSVERSE LIGAMENT. 



1. Transverse ligament with its offsets cut. 



2. Space occupied by the odontoid process. 



a cruciform figure : the upper band is inserted into the basi- 

 occipital, and the lower into the body of the axis. Towards the 

 spinal canal it is concealed by the long occipito-axial ligament. 



This ligament forms, with the anterior arch of the atlas, a ring Socket for 

 (fig. 255, 2 ) which surrounds the neck of the odontoid process of the ^ 



axis, and prevents separation of the bones. 



The lateral odontoid or check ligaments (fig. 254, ') are two strong Check 

 bundles of fibres, attached by one end to a flat impression on each ll s aments - 

 side of the head of the odontoid process, and by the other to a 

 rough mark on the inner surface of the condyle of the occipital 

 bone. The.se ligaments are covered by the long occipito-axial band : 

 their upper fibres are short and nearly horizontal ; the lower are 

 longer and oblique. 



The central odontoid ligament is a small median cord, which Suspensory 

 passe* from the tip of the odontoid process to the anterior margin of h s ament - 

 the foramen magnum. 



When the transverse and odontoid ligaments have been cut Articular 

 through, the odontoid process will be seen to have two cartilage- 2? ntoFd 



