158 



Joints of the Spine. 



Ligamentum longitudinale posterius 



Nucleus pulposus , % 



Fibrocartilago _ 

 intervertebralis 



Ligamentum 

 longitudinale 

 anterius 



Corpus 

 vertebrae 



Foramen intervertebrale 

 i 



Ligamentum flavum 



i Ligamentum interspinale 



/' Processus spinosus 



Ligamentum 

 /supraspinale 



Ligamentum supraspinale 



210. Median section of a piece of the lumbar 



Spinal Column, right half of sections, viewed from the left. 



A median section of a flbrocartilago intervertebralis permits the excentric position 

 of the nucleus pulposus to be especially distinctly recognized and besides shows that the 

 connective tissue layers which compose the ammlus fibrosus are bent so as to be somewhat 

 convex forward; behind, on the other hand, they are much stronger and are sharply bent 

 backward; in the middle of the disc the direction of curvature can be variable. 



The capsulae articulares (see Fig. 220) are stretched out between the borders of each 

 adjacent pair of processus articulares. They are looser on the cervical than on the thoracic 

 and lumbar vertebrae. 



The lig-amenta interspinalia are flat bands of tissue which extend between the borders 

 of each adjacent pair of processus spinosi. They are most strongly developed on the lumbar 

 vertebrae, feeblest on the cervical vertebrae. In general the fibres are directed from above 

 downward and backward. 



The ligameiita intertransversaria (see Figs. 223 and 224) are rounded, thinner bands 

 which run between the borders of every adjacent pair of processus transversi. They are strongest 

 in the lumbar and thoracic spine, feebler, sometimes doubled on the cervical vertebrae; they 

 may be entirely absent from the latter. The fibres are directed from above downward. 



