248 THE MUSCLES. 



Third Layer. 

 4. CoMPLEXUS (CoMPLEXUS Major) (Fig. 163, 6, 7). 



/Synoni/ms.— Durso-occipitalis — Ch'rard. 



/Situation — Direction — Form. — A powerful muscle, included between the internal 

 surface of the splenius and the cervical ligament, the oblique direction of which, 

 forwards and upwards, it follows ; it is triangular, flattened on both sides, 

 elongated from before to behind, and divided longitudinally into two unequal 

 portions — a posterior and anterior. 



Structure. — The posterior portion (Fig. 163, 6), the most considerable, is 

 aponeurotic at its origin, intersected by linear fibrous bands which obliquely 

 cross its direction, and is formed of fleshy fibres directed forwards. Those which 

 compose the anterior portion (Fig. 164, 7), intennixed with some tendinous 



Fig. 160. 



LATERAL VIEW OF THE NECK (MIDDLE LAYER OF MUSCLES). 



1, Funicular portion of the cervical ligament; 2, complexus major; 3, complexus minor; 4, rectus 

 capitis posticus major; 5, rectus capitis posticus minor; 6, stylo-maxillaris ; 7, carotid artery; 

 8, pneumogastric nerve and branch of sympathetic; 9, longus colli; 10, recurrent nerve; 11, 

 inferior scalenus; 12, intertransversalis colli; 13, incision through rhomboideus and trapezius; 

 14, trachea. 



fasciculi, are directed upwards, and appear to be inserted into the preceding. 

 It is this difference in the direction of the fibres of the two portions of the 

 complexus which allows them to be distinguished from one another ; the two 

 being only really separated by an interstice near their inferior extremity. 

 Superiorly, the muscle is constricted to form the summit of the elongated triangle 

 it represents, and terminates by a strong tendon. 



Fixed insertions. — The posterior portion derives its origin : 1. From the 

 summit of the spinous processes of the first dorsal vertebrae, by a strong 

 aponeurosis which is confounded with that of the splenius and the serratus 

 anticus. 2. From the transverse processes of the four or five dorsal vertebrae 

 which follow the second, by as many aponeurotic digitations united by their 

 margins. The anterior portion is fixed : 1. To the transverse processes of the 

 two first dorsal vertebras, by two tendinous digitations analogous to those of 



