244 



COMPARATIVE ARTHROLOGY 



COMPARATIVE ARTHROLOGY i 



Joints and Ligaments of the Vertebrs: 



Ox. — The ligamentuin nuchae is better developed than in the horse. The 

 funicular part is clearly divided into two lateral halves, which are round at their 

 occipital attachment, but from the axis backward become rapidly wider and flat. 

 This wide portion is almost sagittal, lies on either side of the vertebral spines, and 

 is covered by the trapezius and rhomboideus muscles. From the highest part of 

 the ■ndthers (third thoracic spine) it gradually diminishes in size and fades out in 

 the lumbar region. The lamellar part is thick, and consists of anterior and pos- 

 terior parts. T'he anterior part is double; its fibers proceed from the funicular 

 part to the second, third, and fourth cervical spines. The posterior part is single; 

 its fibers extend from the first thoracic spine to the fifth, sixth, and seventh cervical 

 spines. 



The ventral longitudinal ligament is very strong in the lumbar region. 



Fig. 2.'ifi. — Ltoamentum Nuch.e of Ox. 



a, Funicular part; 6, its wide portion; r, rf, lamellar part; e, interspinous ligament ; ^ , spinous process of first thoracic 



vertebra; 2, axis (EUenberger-Baum, Anat. d. Haustiere.) 



The intervertebral fibro-cartilages are thicker than in the horse. 



The interspinous ligaments of the back and loins consist largely of elastic 

 tissue. 



There are no intertransverse joints in the Imnbar region. 



Pig. — The ligamentum nuchge is represented by a fibrous raphe and thin 

 layers of elastic tissue which extend between the cervical spines. 



The atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial joints resemble those of the dog. 



The interspinous ligamejits of the neck are elastic. 



Dog. — The ligamentum nuchae consists of a small fibrous band which extends 

 from the spine of the axis to the anterior thoracic spines; it may be regarded as a 

 mere fibrous raphe between the right and left muscles. 



There are interspinous muscles instead of ligaments in the neck. 



There are three hgaments in connection with the dens of the axis. The two 

 alar ligaments (Ligg. alaria) arise on either side of the dens, diverge, and end on 



> This section consists necessarily only of a brief statement of the most important differences 

 in the joints of the other animals. 



