RECTUS CAPITIS ANTICUS MINOR— LONG US COLLI 457 



Action. — To flex the head, and sHghtly to rotate it to the same side. 



Relations. — In front, the internal and common carotid artery, the internal 

 jugular vein, the pneumogastric and sympathetic nerves, and the upper part of tlie 

 pharynx; behind, the rectus capitis anticus minor, and part of the longus colli. 



2. RECTUS CAPITIS ANTICUS MINOR 



The rectus capitis anticus minor — named from its direction, position, and 

 size — is thick luul rihbon-shaped, and continues the series of the anterior intertrans- 

 versalcs. 



Origin. — The upper surface of the lateral mass of the atlas in front of the 

 articular jn'ocess. 



Insertion. — The under surface of the basilar portion of the occipital l)one in 

 front of the foramen magnum, but not as far inwards as the preceding muscle. 



Structure. — Parallel or slightly divergent fleshy fibres which run upwards and 

 inwards. 



Nerve-supply. — The first cervical nerve, which sends a filament to its front 

 surface. 



Action. — To flex the head. 



Relations. — In front, the rectus capitis anticus major; behind, the anterior 

 occipito-axial ligament. 



3. LONGUS COLLI 



The longus colli — named from its length and the region in which it lies — is a 

 compound muscle, and forms an elongated triangular sheet with the Ijase running 

 vertically along the outer Ijorcler of the anterior common ligament, and the obtuse 

 apex directed outwards. It consists of three portions: one mesial, the vertical; 

 and two lateral, the upper and lower ohllque portions. 



Vertical portion : — 



Origin. — Lateral part of front of bodies of last two cervical and first three 

 thoracic vertebrae, external to the anterior common ligament. 



Insertion. — Lateral part of front of bodies of second, third, and fourth cervical 

 vertebne. 



Lower oblique portion : — 



Origin. — Lateral ])art of front of bodies of the first three thoracic vertel)rce. 



Insertion. — The front of the anterior tubercles of the transverse processes of 

 thf fifth and sixth cervical vertebne. 



Upper oblique portion : — 



Origin. — The front of the anterior tubercles of the transverse processes of the 

 third, fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae. 



Insertion. — The under surface and side of the anterior tubercle of the atlas. 



Structure. — All three portions arise by short tendons, then Ijccome fleshy, and 

 are inserted l)y short tendons, with the exception of the superior ol)lique portion, 

 which has a fleshy attachment to the tubercle of the atlas. 



Nerve-supply. — The anterior branches from the cervical nerves soon after their 

 emergence. 



Action. — To flex the neck; and also by its olilique portions slightly to rotate 

 and laterally flex it. 



Relations. — In front, the pharynx, oesophagus, great vessels of the neck, the 

 inferior tln'roid artery, the sympathetic cord, the pneumogastric ner\'e, and the 

 recurrent laryngeal nerve; behind, the vertebral cohnnn, and, under cover of 

 the lower oblique }>ortion, the vertebral artery. 



