THORACIC JOINTS 



143 



of the capsule is specialised into three radiating bands which 

 form the radiate ligament (lig. capituli costse radiatum). The 

 upper and lower bands go to the corresponding vertebrae, 

 whilst the intermediate band is attached to the intervertebral 

 fibro -cartilage. The capitular joints of the first, and the tenth, 

 eleventh, and twelfth ribs are each formed between the head 

 of the rib and the corresponding vertebra. The interarticular 

 ligament is absent ; therefore each joint possesses only one 



Anterior longitudinal ligament 

 Rib 



Three slips I 

 of radiate^ ^, 

 ligament ' -'" 



V Anterior 



costo-transverse 

 ligament 



1'V;. 72. Anterior aspect of the Costo- vertebral Joints and of the Anterior 

 Longitudinal Ligament of Vertebral Column. 



cavity. The anterior parts of the capsules of those joints are 

 not, as a rule, specialised into radiate bands. 



The Costo-transverse Articulations are the joints formed 

 between the necks and tubercles of the ribs and the trans- 

 verse processes of the vertebrae. 



The tubercle of each rib, with the exception of the 

 eleventh and twelfth, articulates with the tip of the transverse 

 process of the vertebra of the same number, by a circular 

 articular facet which is surrounded by an articular capsule 

 lined with a synovial stratum. The joint is, therefore, a diar- 

 throdial joint, and the upper and posterior part of the capsule 

 is greatly thickened, and is called the ligament of the tubercle 



