M. rectus capitis entices major ( Grand truchelo-basilaire : Dumas) lies closely on the vertebra in the upper part of the neck, to the outside of the preceding muscle. It is an elongated, but thickish, muscle, arising by ten dinous slips from the anterior tubercles of the transverse processes of the third, fourth, and fifth cervical vertebra. These become fleshy, unite as they ascend, and are inserted into the under surface of the basilar process of the occipital bone, beside the median line, and just behind the spine, which attaches the raphe of the pharynx. Its inner edge overlaps the longus colli. These muscles correspond ante riorly to the great vessels of the neck, to the nerves which accompany them, and to the cervical portions of the respiratory and diges tive tubes, but are separated by their own dense fascia from immediate relation to these parts. Their deep surface is in intimate connection with all the vertebra and intervertebral discs, to which they correspond. Their action is incon siderable; the rectus will slightly rotate and bend the head to its own side, or in conjunction with its fellow directly flex it. The longus colli,
cooperating with its fellow, bends the cervical spine; or, acting singly, can slightly rotate by its higher fibres toward, by its lower fibres away from, the side on which the contraction occurs.
2. Lateral vertebral muscles.—The inter transversales call are almost described by their name. They form, on each side, a double series of small square muscles, occupying the spaces between the adjoining transverse pro cesses, which afford them attachment by both borders of their surface. Arising from the lips, which the channelled upper surfaceof each trans verse process presents, they ascend in each space to the borders of the process immediately above, and are there inserted. Between the inter transversales antici and postici the spinal nerves of the region emerge, and the vertebral artery ascends.
Strictly analogous to these are the two small muscles which .pass to the occiput from the transverse process of the atlas, the rectus ca pitis laterals and rectus capitis anticus minor. The former would represent a posterior, the latter an anterior inter-transversalis. The former