98 



Anatomy of the Rabbit. 



process by the stylohyoideus major muscle. The connection of the 

 lesser cornu with the styloid process through the stylohyoideus minor 

 replaces the stylohyoid ligament of the human skull and the chain of 

 elements commonly occurring in mammals and other vertebrates in this 

 region. The muscle tendon contains near the jugular process a small 

 ossification representing a detached styloid process. This connection, 

 together with the hyoid bone itself, indicates the relation of the em- 

 bryonic hyoid arch, from which the skeletal structures in question are 

 derived. The greater cornu belongs to the succeeding visceral arch, 

 and is connected with the superior cornu 

 of the thyreoid cartilage of the larynx 

 by the lateral hyothyreoid ligament. .i£.- 



THE SKELETON OF THE 

 ANTERIOR LIMB. 



The skeleton of the anterior limb 

 is divisible into two portions, namely, 

 a proximal portion, comprising the 

 scapula and the clavicle, - and a distal 

 portion, comprising the supports of the 

 free extremity. The scapulae and clavi- 

 cles of the two sides together form the 

 pectoral girdle. The pectoral girdle is 

 lightly constructed, and, apart from its 

 muscular connections, which constitute 

 its main support, is directly attached to 

 the axial skeleton only through the 

 sternoclavicular ligament. 



The skeleton of the free extremity is 

 divisible into proximal, middle, and 

 distal segments. The proximal segment 

 contains a single bone, the humerus; , 

 the middle segment two elements, the 



radius and ulna ; while the distal segment comprises, in addition to 

 the accessory sesamoid bones, twenty-eight elements of the regular series, 

 of which nine form the carpus, five the metacarpus, and fourteen the 

 phalanges of the digits. 



THE SCAPULA. 



met 



Fig. 36. Lateral 

 hyoid and larynx: 

 cartilage; c.c, cricoid cartilage; c.i., 

 inferior cornu of thyreoid cartilage; 

 cm., lesser cornu of hyoid; c.mj., 

 greater, cornu of hyoid; c.s , superior 

 cornu of thyreoid cartilage; c.t., left 

 plate of the thyreoid cartilage; e. t 

 epiglottic cartilage; f.t.s., thyreoid 

 foramen; l.h., lateral hyothyreoid 

 ligament; l.h.m., median hyothyreoid 

 ligament; m.ct., cricothyreoideus 

 muscle; o.h., hyoid bone; s.m., 

 stylohyoideus minor muscle; s.mj., 

 stylohyoideus major muscle; tr. t 

 cartilaginous tracheal rings. 



The scapula (Fig. 37) is a somewhat triangular plate of bone lying 

 in the natural position on the lateral surface of the anterior part of 

 the thorax, with its apex directed downward and forward. In the 

 rabbit, as in quadrupedal mammals generally, the main surfaces are 

 respectively medial and lateral, and differ in this respect from the 

 human condition, in which, from the transverse widening of the thorax, 

 the corresponding surfaces are more nearly ventral and dorsal. Of its 



