U 4 



THORAX 



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 correspond- 

 ing vertebra. The interarticular ligament is absent; therefore 

 each joint possesses only one cavity. The anterior parts of 

 the capsules of these joints are not, as a rule, specialised into 

 radiate bands. 



The Costo-transverse Articulations are the joints formed 



Anterior longitudinal ligament 



Rib 



Three slips 



Anterior 

 5 costo-transverse 

 ligament 



FIG. 54. Anterior aspect of the Costo- vertebral Joints ; also Anterior 

 Longitudinal Ligament of Vertebral Column. 



between the necks and the 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 stratum synoviale. 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 

 (O.T. posterior costo-transverse ligament). In addition to the 

 capsule and its posterior thickening there are three accessory 



