FISTULA. 
521 
tions, between which deep-seated collections of pus can bur¬ 
row, and be almost out of surgical reach ; unlike many of the 
cervical muscles, it is not triangular but long, almost fusiform. 
The two portions of this muscle have their fixed insertion in 
common with the smaller portion of the great complexus, on 
the transverse processes of first two dorsal and articular 
tubercles of the cervical vertebras. One portion has its fixed 
insertion on mastoid process of the temporal bone ; the others 
on the transverse process of the atlas. The small complexus is 
overlaid by the splenius and is related internally to the great 
complexus and the two oblique muscles. The fibres are par¬ 
allel with the cervical cord. Its nourishment comes through 
the same arteries and it receives nerve force from the same 
cervical nerves as its larger fellow. 
That portion of the superior cervical region, which is 
bounded above by the "external occipital protuberance, 
below, by the superior spinous process of the axis, in front, 
by the inferior tubercle of the atlas and inferior spinous pro¬ 
cess of the axis, and behind by the cervical cord, is frequently 
interesting and profitable, but sometimes a very troublesome 
region to the veterinarian. Its anatomy calls for close study 
and frequent reviews if we would treat poll evil with the best 
success. Many stiff necks and enlarged polls are standing 
criticisms on somebody’s poor surgerv. * 
The great oblique muscle of the head is the short, strong 
muscle which rotates the head around the odontoid process 
of the axis. It is covered by the splenius and both conplexus 
muscles. Its inward relation is with the atlas, axis and atlo- 
axoid articulation. The fixed insertion is on one side of the 
superior spinous process of the axis. Its movable insertion is 
on the transverse process of the atlas. Blood supply is 
through the prevertebral, mastoid and retrograde branches 
of the occipital artery and small muscular branches of the 
vertebral. The second cervical nerve furnishes its main com¬ 
motion with the great nerve centers. Its fibres run obliquely 
forward and outward. 
Small oblique is a little, square muscle, aponeurotic in 
structure, lying over the occipito-styloid and digastricus 
