112 THE SURGICAL ANATOMY OF THE HORSE 



direction downwards and forwards, and become collected into bundles 

 which obtain insertion in the superior spines of the last six cervical 

 vertebra. The lamellar portions are applied to one another and are 

 connected by loose areolar tissue. 



The distance of the funicular portion from the arches of the 

 vertebriE progressively increases from its origin to a point opposite 

 the articulation between the last cervical and the first dorsal vertebra-, 

 and then it similarly decreases as we ascend the neck until we reach 

 the atlas, immediately over the arch of which this portion of the 

 ligament lies. This point is of considerable interest in dealing with 

 poll-evil, which is frequently due to a blow received over the atlas 

 or occiput, whereby a small portion of the bone is chipped off and 

 remains in a position but slightly altered, and an incentive to the 

 formation of a sinus. In the inflammatory fibrous growth which 

 follows, it will be seen that the funicular portion of the ligament 

 will usually be involved, and this by its compression of the diseased 

 parts gives rise to intense pain during the movement of the head, 

 particularly in the downward direction. Thus a horse with this affec- 

 tion will be observed to hold its head erect, with its nose poked 

 forwards, the occipito-atlantal joint being fully extended, and the 

 occipital bone brought as far backwards as possible to ease the tension 

 on the ligament. 



Cervical Desmotomy. — To relieve the pain in the condition thus 

 described it becomes necessary to sever the funicular division ot the liga- 

 ment, and to this operation the name " cervical desmotomy " is given. 



In connection with this operation it is to be noted that as we 

 proceed down the neck, the amount of fatty tissue between the 

 ligament and the skin carrying the mane increases. This is illustrated 

 in the plates representing sections taken transversely across the neck. 

 (Plates VII. and VIII.) 



It becomes therefore more expedient to perform the operation near 

 the occiput, where the ligament is most superficially placed, and in 



