CARNIVORA. 153 



OMNIVORA. 



AXIAL SKELETON. 



In the hog the ligamentum nuchce can scarcely be said to exist ; a fibrous 

 cord from the dorsal spines to the occiput represents it. There is only one 

 synovial capsule in the occipito-atloid joint, and there is a transverse odontoid 

 ligament which passes over the odontoid process, and keeps it down on the 

 floor of the atloid ring. The sternal ribs articulate distally like those of the 

 ox, and the remarks on the sternal articulations of that animal also apply to 

 the hog. The temporo-inaxillary joint possesses great motion anteriorly and 

 posteriorly, resembling in its structure that of the rabbit, the anterior mastoid 

 process being small, and the temporal articular surface large. The ligaments 

 between the hyoid cornua and cornicula are elastic. 



APPENDICULAR SKELETON. 



The synovial membrane of the shoulder joint is continued into the bicipital 

 groove. In the elbow joint the internal lateral ligament is shorter than the 

 external one. The radius and ulna have been described as anchylosed and 

 also as closely connected by fibrous tissue. Whichever be the more common 

 mode of union, there is no motion between these bones. The foiu' bones of 

 the metacarpus are joined by prolongations of the great carpal ligaments above, 

 and below by interarticular ligaments. Each metacarpo-phalangeal joint is 

 supplied with an intersesamoid, two lateral, a crucial inferior sesamoid, and an 

 anterior capsular ligament, also with a synovial membrane, and lateral liga- 

 ments for the joint itself. The suspensory ligament is replaced by the inter- 

 osseous palmar muscles, and there are small superior interdigital ligaments 

 between the proximal phalanges. A very small osseous nodule is usually 

 found on each of the anterior capsular ligaments of these joints. The external 

 lateral navicular ligaments resemble those of the horse ; the internal ones are 

 wanting. An elastic navicular ligament like that of the ox is found in the 

 large digits. 



There is no pubio-femoral, and only one straight patellar ligament. The tibio- 

 fibular articulation consists of an amphiarthrosis superiorlj^, a diarthrosis 

 inferiorly, and between these an interosseous ligament, stronger below than 

 above. The tarsal articulation resembles in the main that of the ruminant. 



' CARNIVORA. 



AXIAL SKELETON. 



The ligamentum nuchas is represented by a fibrous band which is larger in 

 the dog than in the cat ; in the cervical vertebrae of the former, and in the 

 vertebrae generally of the latter, there are interspinous muscles instead of liga- 

 ments. The occipito-atloid and odontoid ligaments are similar to those of the 

 hog. In the temporo-7naxillary ^oint there is merely ginglymoid motion, and 

 the meniscus is very thin. 



APPENDICULAR SKELETON. 



In the carnivora the synovial membrane of the shoulder joint is similar to 

 that of the hog in its arrangement. The lateral ligaments of the elbow joint, 



