chap. ix.j THE NECK. 151 



situation the cord has been divided by one stab of a 

 knife, the instrument entering between the two bones. 

 Larigier gives some ingenious cases of infanticide 

 whei-e the lethal weapon was merely a long needle. 

 The needle was introduced into the spinal canal 

 between the atlas and axis, and the cord readily cut 

 across. 



Wounds at the side of the neck have divided 

 considerable portions of the brachial plexus without 

 involving other structures. 



The liyoid bone may be broken by direct 

 violence, as from blows, or in the act of throttling. 

 It is sometimes found broken in those who have been 

 hanged. The fracture may involve the body of the 

 bone, but more usually the greater cornu is found 

 broken off'. In the New York Medical Record (1882) 

 is the report of the case of a man who felt something 

 snap under his chin while yawning. On examination 

 the hyoid bone was found to be fractured. The bone 

 was also found broken in a patient who threw her 

 head violently backwards to save herself from falling 

 (Hamilton). The fracture is associated with great 

 difficulty and pain in speaking, in moving the tongue, 

 in opening the mouth, and in swallowing, symptoms 

 that may be readily understood. A bursa lies be- 

 tween the thyro-hyoid membrane and the posterior 

 surface of the hyoid bone. It may, when enlarged, 

 form one of the cystic tumours of the neck. 



The larynx and trachea. The position of the 

 larynx in the neck is influenced by age. In the adult 

 the crJQQJd cartilage reaches to the lower part of the 

 sixth cervical vertebra. In a child of three months 

 it reaches the lower border of the fourih cervical, and 

 in a child of six years the lower border of the fifth 

 vertebra. At puberty it attains the adult position. 

 The upper end of the epiglottis in the adult is opposite 

 the lower border of the third cervical vertebra. In a 



