72 ANATOMY OF THE HEAD AND NECK 



glands. The continuation of the trachea is described in 

 connection with the lungs. 



DISSECTION XL 



PREVERTEBRAL REGION. 



The dissection now reverts to that portion of the vertebral column 

 put aside after the separation of the pharynx, viz., the prevertebral 

 region. The removal of a small amount of cellular tissue exposes 

 several muscles ; the superior of which, the rectus capitis anticus 

 major and minor, are usually found mutilated by the cutting through 

 of the occipital bone. 



The RECTUS CAPITIS ANTICUS MAJOR MUSCLE, superiorly 

 the most superficial of the prevertebral muscles, arises by 

 tendinous slips from the anterior tubercles of the trans- 

 verse processes of the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth cervical 

 vertebrae; these unite to form a single belly, and the mus- 

 cle is inserted into the basilar process of the occipital 

 bone. 



The LONGUS COLLI MUSCLE, partly concealed by the pre- 

 ceding, is, however, superficial at its lower part, where it 

 lies upon the bodies of the vertebrae. This muscle is 

 pointed above and broad below, and consists of an external 

 and an internal part, the former being vertical, and the 

 latter oblique. The internal part arises by fleshy and tendin- 

 ous processes from the bodies of the two upper dorsal and 

 two lower cervical vertebrae ; the external part arises from 

 the anterior tubercles of the transverse processes of the 

 third, fourth, fifth, and sixth cervical vertebrae; the two 

 portions then blend together, and are inserted by four slips 

 into the lower border of the bodies of the four upper cer- 

 vical vertebrae ; some of the most external fibres of the lower 

 part of this muscle are occasionally attached by separate 

 tendons to the transverse processes of the lower cervical 

 vertebrae. 



The RECTUS CAPITIS ANTICUS MINOR MUSCLE lies beneath 

 the rectus anticus major, which must therefore be removed; 

 it arises from the anterior border of the lateral half of the 

 atlas, and is inserted into the basilar process of the occipital 

 bone. 



The RECTUS CAPITIS LATERALIS MUSCLE arises from the 



