Joints of the Spine. 



163 



,0s occipitale 



Protuberantia 

 occipitalis externa 



Ligamentum nuchae Ij 



Vertebra prominens 



(processus spinosus) 



-<- -- Os temporale 



Processus mastoideus 



Processus transversus 



atlantis 

 Arteria vertebralis 



Processus transversus 

 epistrophei 



Capsula articularis 



- Cavuni articulare 



Ligamentum interspinale 



Vertebra prominens 



214 a . Skull and cervical spine, with ligaments, 



from the right. 



(The joint slits have been partially opened.) 



Between the occipital bone and the processus spinosi of the cervical vertebrae is stretched 

 in the median plane the unpaired, triangular ligamentum nuchae. It is a membrane of 

 unequal thickness and fastened above to the crista occipitalis externa, in front to the tuber- 

 culum posterius atlantis and the tips of the spinous processes from the second to the seventh 

 cervical vertebra (from the second to the sixth vertebra to their dorsal notches). Between the 

 spinous processes it connects with the ligamenta interspinalia , below with the ligamentum 

 supraspinale. Its free, somewhat concave, thickened border lies close beneath the skin, goes 

 from the protuberantia occipitalis externa to the tip of the spinous process of the seventh 

 cervical vertebra and connects with the fascia nuchae. Within the membrane a band of stronger 

 fibrous bundles runs backward and downward from each cervical vertebra. 



11* 



