268 Anatomy of thk Rabbit. 



A second muscle, the semispinalis cervicis, is covered 

 by the foregoing one. It arises from the articular processes 

 of the posterior cervical and first thoracic vertebrae, and is 

 inserted on the spinous processes of the cervical vertebrae, 

 chiefly on that of the epistropheus, 

 (c) The intertransversarii are short muscles connecting the 

 lateral portions of the vertebrae. They are distinguishable 

 in part by their darker coloration. They increase in size 

 backwards, being most conspicuous in the lumbar region, 

 where they form thick muscular pads interposed between 

 the mamillary and accessory processes. The last slip is 

 attached to the crest of the ilium. 

 2. The following muscles constitute an occipital group, com- 

 posed of short muscles arising frorn the atlas and axis and inserted 

 on the atlas and the occipital portion of the skull. 



(a) The rectus capitis posterior superficialis. Origin: 

 Spinous process of the epistropheus. Insertion: External 

 occipital protuberance. 



(b) The obliquus capitis superior. Origin: Transverse 

 process of the atlas. Insertion: Lateral surface of the 

 occipital protuberance. 



The foregoing muscles should be divided. 



(c) The rectus capitis posterior minor. Origin: Posterior 

 tubercle of the atlas. Insertion: External occipital pro- 

 tuberance. 



(d) The rectus capitis posterior major. Origin: Spinous 

 process of the epistropheus. Insertion: Laterally on 



the supraoccipital bone. 



(e) The obliquus capitis inferior. Origin: Spinous process 

 of the epistropheus. Insertion: Dorsal surface of the 

 transverse process of the atlas. 



(f) The rectus capitis lateralis. Origin: In common with the 

 obliquus capitis superior, which covers it. Insertion: Base 

 of the jugular process of the occipital. 



3. Muscles of the lateral and ventral surfaces of the neck: 

 (a) The scalenus anterior. Origin: Transverse processes of 

 the four posterior cervical vertebrae. Insertion: First rib. 



