Wyman on the Cancelli of Bones. 131 
This cone divides into two masses; an external stronger one 
descends obliquely to the right and left, joins the compact 
substance of the opposite planes of the bone; the internal 
line follows the course indicated by the base of the neck, and 
limits the triangular space comprised between it and the great 
fasciculus of support." ! 
This description is too much confused to be understood 
without the aid of their figure; and this, it is believed, will be 
found on comparison with a section of the bone itself to be an 
inaccurate representation of its structure. The description is 
correct, as far as it relates to the fibres which transmit the 
weight from the head to the under side of the neck, though 
they are not parallel; the “central mass" I have not been 
able to make out, and, as for that portion which is **out of 
the line of pressure," it has not a structure different from the 
adjoining parts, and, like them, it performs an important 
office in sustaining the weight of the body. 
Mr. Ward, in his description of the neck, approaches nearer 
the truth, though he seems to have misconceived the plan of 
its structure. He recognizes three series of fibres, one of 
Which extends from the head to the under surface of the neck 
(Fig. 3. a); another forming a series of pointed arches which 
abut on the outer and inner walls of the base of the neck 
(b b); and a third extending from the summit of this arch to 
the first series (c) ; the whole of which he compares to a 
bracket (d) ; series (a) resisting by its rigidity, (c) by its tena- 
city, and (b) forming the * archwork," which gives the last its 
points of resistance. The cancelli of the triangular interval 
between these three, he says, present no determinate arrange- 
ment. In the sequel it will appear that neither the interval 
Which he describes, nor the archwork exist. 
According to the view which I wish to advance, and which 
seems to approach much nearer the truth than either of those 
above referred to, two series of cancelli exist; one of these 
= 2, a a) rests or abuts on the convex surface of the thick 
1 Bourgery and Jacob, Op. cit. Tom. I. p. 118. 
