File:Animal and vegetable physiology, considered with reference to natural theology, by Peter Mark Roget (1834) (14592570257).jpg

Identifier: animalandvegetab01roge (find matches)
Title: Animal and vegetable physiology, considered with reference to natural theology, by Peter Mark Roget ..
Year: 1834 (1830s)
Authors: Roget, Peter Mark, 1779-1869
Subjects: Biology Physiology Plant physiology Natural theology
Publisher: London : W. Pickering
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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the attachments of these muscles.The effort requisite to raise, and even support thehead is very considerable; as will appear whenwe reflect that its weight acts by means of anextremely long lever ; for such is the mechanicaloffice of the elongated neck. But in order toeconomize the muscular power, an elastic liga-ment is employed to sustain the weight of thehead. This, which is termed the ligamentiunnuchoi, and is represented at n, in Fig. 217, isformed of a great number of bands which connectthe hinder part of the cranium, at the rido-e ofthe occipital bone, and all the spinous processesof the neck, with those of the back, the separateslips from each being successively joined toge- 502 THE MECHANICAL FUNCTIONS. ther, and composing a ligament of great lengthand power. It differs in its structure fromordinary ligaments, being highly elastic, so thatit yields to the extension of the neck whenthe animal lowers its head, and gives consider-able assistance to the muscles in raising it. In
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the deer and the ox, which toss their headswith force, and especially in the males, whichare armed with antlers or horns, the musclesperforming those motions are remarkably strong,and the spinous processes of the back particu-larly prominent. In the loins, on the contrary,we find the transverse processes more enlarged,for the purpose of giving a powerful mechanicalpurchase to the muscles which are inserted intothem. The chest of ruminant quadrupeds is com-pressed laterally in order to allow room for the RUMINANT QUADRUPEDS. 503 unrestrained motions of the anterior extremity;and the sternum projects so as to resemble thekeel of a ship. The bones of the anterior extre-mity are not joined to the rest of the skeleton bymeans of any bone corresponding to a clavicle;but they are connected with the spine and ribsonly by ligaments and muscles ; so that the forepart of the trunk is in fact suspended betweenthe limbs by its muscular attachments alone.This is not the case with the hind extremiti

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