174 



THE ARTICULATIONS OF THE HORSE 



flat, and oval in the cervical region, small and flat in the thoracic region, while in 

 the luml)ar region the anterior ones are concave and the posterior convex. The 

 joint capsule is strong and ample in the cervical region, in conformity with the large 

 size and greater mobility of these joints in the neck. In the thoracic and lumbar 

 regions the capsule is small and close. These joints are arthrodia. 



Associated with these joints are the ligamenta flava, which connect the arches 

 of adjacent vertelirse. They are membranous and consist largely of elastic tissue. 



The supraspinous ligament extends medially from the occipital bone to the 

 sacrum. From the withers backward it consists of a strong cord of fibrous tissue, 

 attached to the summits of the vertebral spines. In the neck and withers it is 



Atlas 



Funicular part 



Expansion at withers 



Last cervical / \ 



vertebra / 



First thoracic ^ \ 



vertebra 



FlC. 140. LiCAMEN-TUM NuCH.1E OF HoRSE. 



1, Scapula; /', cartilage of .sraijula; 4, lamellar part of ligamentum nuchsp; J, wiiiK of atlas. 



Baum, Anat. fiir Kunstler.) 



(.\fter EUeiiberger- 



remarkably modified to form the ligamentum nuchse, which requires more extended 

 notice. 



The ligamentum nuchaB is a powerful elastic apparatus, the principal function 

 of which is to assist the extensor muscles of the head and neck. It extends from 

 the occipital bone to the withers, where it is directly continuous with the supra- 

 s))in()us ligament. It consists of two ])arts — funicular and lamellar. The funic- 

 ular part (Pars occi])italis) arises from the external occipital protuberance and the 

 fossa below it, and is inserted into the summits of the vertebral spines at the 

 withers. Two bursas are usually found under it in the adult. The supra-atloid 

 bursa lies between the ligament and the dorsal arch of the atlas. The supra- 



