On the cervical vertebrae and their articulations in fin-whales / by John Struthers.

  • Struthers, John, Sir, 1823-1899.
Date:
[1872]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the cervical vertebrae and their articulations in fin-whales / by John Struthers. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    changes its direction, passing very obliquely inwards and forwards to the process and body of the axis; forming a great mass of ligament, 8 inches broad and 1 inch thick. The at- tachments of this great sloping ligament account for the breadth and prominence of especially the outer part of the tubercular stage of the 3rd vertebra, and for the roughness on the inferior process of the axis opposite the foramen (tubercular stage, but not defined as on the vertebrae behind) and inwards to where it joins the body. On either side of this series of ligaments spaces are left. The internal spaces, between the ligaments and the bodies of the vertebrae, opposite the root stages of the processes, admitting one or two fingers, but in the putrid state easily enlarged as the ligament is thinner here. The rete is seen bulging against this thinner part, and, as far as one could judge after the ex- ternal parts had been cleared away, appears to have sent com- munications through the passages. The external spaces are the nerve-passages, corresponding to the third stage of the processes. They are about 3 inches in breadth and about an inch longitudinally, diminishing outwards as the processes con- verge, easily admitting three or four fingers flat. The one be- tween the axis and third vertebra is smaller than the others (2^ inches). Their inner boundary is some way internal to the outer part of the tubercular stage, owing to the obliquity of the groove and the position of the ligaments. Their outer boundary, formed by the lowest part of the ligaments which connect the external part of the processes, is about an inch internal to the outer end of the foramina. Besides the nerve, which is not larger than the little finger, they are occupied by communica- tions of the rete. (b) Superior Inter-transverse Ligaments and Nerve-spaces. The dorsal nerve-spaces 'are between the ligaments externally and the zygoma] processes and their ligaments internally. Be- tween the 6th and 7th vertebrae their breadth is 2£ inches, increasing forwards to a breadth of 4 inches between the third aud the axis; but the spaces of the posterior are wider. The spaces have a compressed triangular form, tapering outwards, and admit four fingers easily. Besides the nerves, which are small in proportion to the passages (though the disproportion