THE LATERAL VERTEBRAL REGION. 



333 



obliquely upward and inward, is inserted into the basilar process immediately 

 behind the preceding muscle. 



Relations. By its anterior surface, with the Rectus capitis anticus major; by 

 its posterior surface, with the front of the occipito-atlantal articulation. 



The Rectus capitis lateralis is a short, flat muscle, which arises from the upper 

 surface of the transverse process of the atlas, and is inserted into the under surface 

 of the jugular process of the occipital bone. 



Relations. By its anterior surface, with the internal jugular vein ; by its pos- 

 terior surface, with the vertebral artery. On its outer side lies the occipital artery ; 

 on its inner side, the suboccipital nerve. 



FIG. 210. The prevertebral muscles. 



The Longus colli is a long, flat muscle, situated on the anterior surface of the 

 spine, between the atlas and the third dorsal vertebra. It is broad in the middle, 

 narrow and pointed at each extremity, and consists of three portions : a superior 

 oblique, an inferior oblique, and a vertical portion. The superior oblique portion 

 arises from the anterior tubercles of the transverse processes of the third, fourth, 

 and fifth cervical vertebrae, and, ascending obliquely inward, is inserted by a nar- 

 row tendon into the tubercle on the anterior arch of the atlas. The inferior 

 oblique portion, the smallest part of the muscle, arises from the front of the bodies 

 of the first two or three dorsal vertebrae, and, ascending obliquely outward, is 

 inserted into the anterior tubercles of the transverse processes of the fifth and 

 sixth cervical vertebrae. The vertical portion lies directly on the front of the spine ; 

 it arises, below, from the front of the bodies of the upper three dorsal and lower 

 three cervical vertebrae, and is inserted above into the front of the bodies of the 

 second, third, and fourth cervical vertebrae above. 



