LESSON V. 



THE KECK. 



The neck of the horse may be roughly stated 

 to be an oblong, having the bones of the neck or 

 cervical vertebrse as a diagonal; thus, (Fig. 7, A). 

 We have thus a rough idea of its fundamental 

 structure, and shall be able further to discuss the 

 subject intelligibly. The column of bones is rep- 

 resented by the diagonal that divides the neck 

 above and below into two triangles, the upper 

 one being the larger and more clearly defined. 

 On referring to Diagram B it will be seen that 

 this upper triangle contains the great cervical 

 hgament which supports the great overhanging 

 mass formed by the head and neck. It will no 

 doubt often have occurred to non-anatomists, as 

 a matter of wonder, how such a weighty over- 

 hanging mass as that of the head and neck gets 

 supported, and how it is kept from dropping 

 down and dangling between the fore legs. It 

 will be seen on reference to Fig. 7 B that there is 

 a ligament occup}ang the upper triangle of the 

 neck which has tivo distinct forms, a cordiform or 

 funicular portion. 111, and a lamellary portion, 

 2 2 2 2. The former is continuous, with the liga- 

 ment running along the upper ends of the spines 

 of the vertebral column of the back and loins, 



