ANATOMY OF THE HOUSE. 
123 
vagum, great sympathetic nerve, and, lower down, the jugular 
vein. The cervical nerves going to form the axillary plexus 
cross the scalenus in their descent; and the axillary artery 
and vein turn round the first rib immediately beneath its postero- 
inferior extremity. 
Structure .—Constituted of two or three cylindroid divisions 
lying one upon the other : its base is tendinous as well as fleshy ; 
its cervical attachments are mostly fleshy. 
Action .—It will aid in the depression of the neck; and may 
also have some effect, the neck being fixed, in inspiration, by 
having a tendency to draw the rib forwards. 
long us colli. — Subdorso-atloideus. 
Structure .—Deep-seated ; extending along the inferior part of 
the neck, and thence for some distance along the back. 
Form .—Complicated: made up of many semi-cylindroid fas¬ 
ciculi running obliquely one into the other: altogether, broad in 
the middle and tapering at either extremity. 
Attachment .—Posteriorly, to the bodies of the six anterior- 
most dorsal vertebrae : anteriorly, to the bodies, transverse pro¬ 
cesses and inferior spines, of all the cervical vertebrae, excepting 
those of the first; it being fixed by a strong tendon to the body 
only of the atlas. 
Relations .—On the outer side it has, posteriorly, the scalenus; 
anteriorly, the rectus anticus major: below it, lies the trachea; 
above it, the vertebrae. 
Structure .—The dorsal portion is pretty uniform, and is prin¬ 
cipally fleshy; the cervical part is convoluted, and the fibres are 
intersected with alternate layers of tendon. The anterior end is 
entirely tendinous; the other part has also a tendon fixing it to 
the 6th cervical vertebra. The fasciculi run from one cervical 
tranverse process to the other. 
Action .— Its many and extensive attachments, and the prox¬ 
imity of the points on which it acts, render it a muscle of con¬ 
siderable power and effect in the flexion of the neck : the rainbow 
curve, and the constrained inflexion of the head towards the 
breast, are chiefly attributable to its full and forcible contrac¬ 
tions. 
5.—INFERIOR CERVICO-OCCIPITAL REGION. 
t 
rectus capitis anticus major. — Trachelo-suboccipitahs. 
Situation .—Deep-seated : antero-lateral pail of the neck. 
I orm. —Pyramidal: base turned forwards. 
Attachment .—Posteriorly, to the transverse processes of the 
