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Thursday, August 24, 2023

Attachment of head to the neck

This pattern is part of a long series I'm doing to build up to a life-sized skeleton. It doesn't detail the creation of any bones, but contains patterns for the ligaments involved in the attachment to the skull to the spine, and description of how to attach them to the existing bones you have created. I also contains details of the final spinal ligaments, including one that runs all the way from the skull down to the coccyx.



Difficulty:
Easy - medium


You will need:
It is also useful to have attached the sacrum to the base of the spine. 

In the creation of the skeleton I have so far assembled the ribcage and added the arms, but this is not necessary before completing this step.


Position the body face-downwards (so that the scapula are facing you), and do the same with the head, placing it just above the neck.

For the apical ligament of the dens:
ch5
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook, then sc in each of the next 3 chain sts. ch1, turn (4sc)
Sew one end of this to the end of the dens of the axis bone, and the other end to the back of the hole in the base of the skull (i.e. to the side closest to the front of the skull)



For the alar ligaments (make 2):
ch8
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook, then sc in each of the next 6 chain sts. ch1, turn (7sc)
Row 2: sc4, hdc3. ch1, turn
Row 3: make 2hdc in the first st, hdc2, sc, slip3 (8sts)
Fasten off
Sew the thinner end of these to the side of the hole in the skull and the thicker ends to the sides of the dens. The cast-off edge should be furthest away from the tip of the dens, as shown in the photos.




(Note that you haven't yet made the ligament in the centre of the image - this is just to show the positioning of the second alar ligament)

For the cruciate ligament:
ch8
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook, then sc in each of the next 6 chain sts. ch1, turn (7sc)
Row 2: sc4, ch8, sc in the 2nd chain st from hook, then sc in the next 6 chain sts. sc in the first st you crocheted into before you made the ch8, then sc in the next 2sts. Make 2sc in the last st. 
Sc in the back loop of the first of the 8 chain sts you made originally (see image 1). sc in the back of the next 3 of these chain sts (image 2), then ch5. Sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and in the next 4 chain sts (image 3). Sc in the back of the same chain st you crocheted into before making the ch5, then sc in the back of each of the following 3 chain sts.
Fasten off

Image 1

Image 2

Image 3


This ligament should be sewn so that the ends of the central (thicker) stripe are attached to the sides of the atlas, as shown in the photo. The shorter chain perpendicular to this strip should be sewn to the body of the axis, and the longer one should be sewn to the hole in the base of the skull, around the same place as where you attached the apical ligament.


For the posterior longitudinal ligament:
ch209
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook, then sc in each of the following 207 chain sts. ch1, turn
Row 2: sc in each st. ch1, turn
(shdhs = sc, hdc, make 2dc in the following st, hdc, sc)
Row 3: slip2, sc, hdc, sc45, shdhs, slip5, shdhs, slip3, shdhs, slip2, shdhs, slip3, shdhs, slip2, shdhs, slip2, shdhs, slip2, shdhs, slip2, shdhs, slip3, shdhs, slip4, shdhs, slip5, shdhs, slip6, shdhs, slip8, shdhs, slip9, shdhs, slip9, shdhs, slip9, shdhs. ch1, turn (225sc)
(sshhss = slip1, sc, hdc2, sc, slip1)
Row 4: sshhss, slip9, sshhss, slip9, sshhss, slip9, sshhss, slip8, sshhss, slip1
Fasten off

Rejoin yarn to the back of the first of the 209 chain sts.
 
Row 5: Sc in the back of this chain st and the next 207 chain sts. ch1, turn (208sc)
(shdhs = sc, hdc, make 2dc in the next st, hdc, sc)
Row 6: slip2, sc, hdc, sc45, shdhs, slip5, shdhs, slip3, shdhs, slip2, shdhs, slip3, shdhs, slip2, shdhs, slip2, shdhs, slip2, shdhs, slip2, shdhs, slip3, shdhs, slip4, shdhs, slip5, shdhs, slip6, shdhs, slip8, shdhs, slip9, shdhs, slip9, shdhs, slip9, shdhs (225sc)
(sshhss = slip1, sc, hdc2, sc, slip1)
Row 7: sshhss, slip9, sshhss, slip9, sshhss, slip9, sshhss, slip8, sshhss, slip1
Fasten off

Sew this to the inside of the spinal column. Each widened section should sit in between each subsequent vertebra, and the top edge (the other end to where the cast-on end is) should be sewn to the back of the hole in the base of the head, above the cruciate ligament.



For the joint capsules of the atlantooccipital joint (make 2):
ch4
Round 1: sc in the 2nd st from hook and the next chain st. Make 3sc in the last chain st, then sc in the back of the previous chain st. Make 2sc in the back of the first chain st you crocheted into. (8sc) 
Round 2: make 2sc in the first st, sc, make 2sc in each of the next 3sts, sc, make 2sc in each of the last 2sts (14sc)
Rounds 3 - 4: (2 rounds) sc in each st
Round 5: sc2tog, sc, sc2tog 3 times, sc, sc2tog twice (8sc)
Round 6: sc, sc2tog twice (6sc)
Fasten off

Flatten these and sew one side to the superior articular surface of the atlas. Sew the other side to either side of the hole at the base of the head, as shown below.



For the posterior atlantoocipital membrane:
ch8
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 6 chain sts. ch1, turn (7sc)
Row 2: sc4, hdc3. ch1, turn
Row 3: hdc3, sc4. ch1, turn
Row 4: sc in each st. ch1, turn
Row 5: hdc3, sc4. ch1, turn
Row 6: sc4, hdc3. ch1, turn
Row 7: sc in each st. ch1, turn
Row 8: sc4, hdc3. ch1, turn
Row 9: hdc3, sc4. ch1, turn
Row 10: sc in each st. ch1, turn
Row 11: hdc3, sc4. ch1, turn
Row 12: sc4, hdc3. ch1, turn
Row 13: sc in each st
Fasten off

Sew this to the back of the neck. The thicker edge should be sewn to the top of the atlas bone, and the thinner edges should be sewn to the remaining edge of the hole at the base of the skull that you haven't yet sewn any ligaments to (i.e. the edge closest to the back of the head)



For the interspinous ligaments:
(Make 4)Ch3
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 2 chain sts. ch1, turn (3sc)
Rows 2 - 3: (2 rows) sc in each st. ch1, turn
Row 4: sc in each stFasten off(Make 3)Ch3
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 2 chain sts. ch1, turn (3sc)
Rows 2 - 4: (3 rows) sc in each st. ch1, turn
Row 5: sc in each st
5 rowsFasten offCh3
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 2 chain sts. ch1, turn (3sc)
Rows 2 - 3: (2 rows) sc in each st. ch1, turn
Row 4: sc in each st
Fasten off(Make 3)Ch3
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 2 chain sts. ch1, turn (3sc)
Rows 2: sc in each st. ch1, turn
Row 3: sc in each st
Fasten offCh4
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 3 chain sts. ch1, turn (4sc)
Rows 2: sc in each st. ch1, turn
Row 3: sc in each st
Fasten offCh5
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 4 chain sts. ch1, turn (5sc)
Rows 2 - 3: (2 rows) sc in each st. ch1, turn
Row 4: sc in each st
Fasten offSew these between the spinal processes of the vertebrae, starting from between T3-4 and working down.

For the supraspinous ligament:
Ch164 (although the exact number will depend on your gauge - you should make enough chain sts that it reaches from the T3/T4 ligament to the top of the coxycc)Row 1: Slip the 2nd chain st from hook and each of the next 4 chain sts, ch10, slip the 2nd chain st from hook and each of the next 9 chain sts, ch10, slip9 up the chain, ch6, slip5 up the chain, sc58 up the original chain you madeFasten offSew to the back of the spine, as shown in the images below. The chains you made at the start should be sewn to the base of the coccyx, with the other end reaching up to the T3/T4 vertebrae.



For the Nuchal ligament (and final interspinous ligaments):
ch4
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and each of the next 2 chain sts. ch1, turn (3sc)
Rows 2 - 6: (5 rounds) sc in each st. ch1, turn
Row 7: sc in each st
Fasten off

(make 2)
ch4
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and each of the next 2 chain sts. ch1, turn (3sc)
Rows 2 - 7: (6 rounds) sc in each st. ch1, turn
Row 8: sc in each st
Fasten off

ch4
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and each of the next 2 chain sts. ch1, turn (3sc)
Row 2 - 5: (4 rounds) sc in each st. ch1, turn
Row 6: make 2sc in the first st, sc2 (4sc)
Fasten off

ch4
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and each of the next 2 chain sts. ch1, turn (3sc)
Rows 2 - 5: (4 rounds) sc in each st. ch1, turn
Row 6: sc, slip2
Fasten off

ch5
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and each of the next 3 chain sts. ch1, turn (4sc)
Rows 2 - 4: (3 rounds) sc in each st. ch1, turn
Row 5: sc, hdc3. ch1, turn
Row 6: make 2hdc in the first st, hdc2, sc. ch1, turn (5sts)
Row 7: slip3, sc, hdc
Fasten off

ch6
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and each of the next 4 chain sts. ch1, turn (5sc)
Row 2: sc in each st. ch1, turn
Row 3: sc2, hdc3. ch1, turn
Row 4: hdc2, sc, slip2
Fasten off

ch7
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and each of the next 2 chain sts. Hdc in the remaining 3 chain sts. ch1, turn (6sts)
Row 2: hdc3, sc3. ch1, turn
Row 3: sc3, hdc3. ch1, turn
Row 4: sc2, slip4
Fasten off


(Note that some of the following are short rows)
Row 9: Rejoin yarn to the first of these sections you made and sc in each of the 3sts. ch3, sc in each st of the 2nd section, ch3, sc in each st of the 3rd section, ch3 ... Repeat in this way until you've attached all of the sections you've made apart from the last, as shown in the images below. ch2, sc in each of the 6 sts of the last section. Ch1, turn (51sts)
Row 10: make 2hdc in the first st, hdc12, sc38. ch1, turn (52sts)
Row 11: slip8, sc25, hdc18, make 2hdc in the last st. ch1, turn (53sts)
Row 12: Make 2hdc in the first st, hdc24, sc18, slip2. ch1, turn (46sts)
Row 13: slip5, sc16, hdc25. ch1, turn
Row 14: sc, hdc in the same st, hdc15, sc3, slip2. ch1, turn (22sts)
Row 15: slip4, sc, hdc17. ch1, turn
Row 16: hdc10, sc, slip1. ch1, turn (12sts)
Row 17: slip5, sc2, hdc5
Fasten off


Sew this section to the back of the skine and skull as shown below. Each of the sections that stick out should be sewn between the spinal processes of adjacent vertebrae, with the top one being sewn between the atlas and the base of the skull.



That's all from this pattern! I hope you have enjoyed it. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me, either by leaving a comment below, or via my Ravelry or Instagram pages. Instagram is your best bet if you're hoping for a speedy reply, and you can also follow me there to find out what I'm currently working on, and be alerted whenever I publish a new pattern.

 
Please don't re-post this pattern or claim it (or any of the images) as your own, but as always you are very welcome to sell finished products :)

Sunday, August 13, 2023

Shoulder assembly

This is the latest pattern in a long series I am gradually releasing that build up to a life-sized human skeleton.
I have added a few extra stitches to secure the bones into position that don't represent anything anatomically, but without them the skeleton would lose its shape.



Difficulty:


Easy - medium

You will need:

 Lay the spine and ribcage down face-upwards. We are going to start by attaching the clavicle bones to the sternum.

For the anterior and posterior sternoclavicular ligaments (make 4):
grey #10 cotton and a 1mm hook ch9
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st and the next 7 chain sts. ch1, turn (8sc) 
Row 2: sc in each st. ch1, turn
Row 3: slip3, sc2, hdc3. ch1, turn
Rows 4 - 5: (2 rows) sc in each st. ch1, turn
Row 6: hdc3, sc2, slip3. ch1, turn
Rows 7 - 8: (2 rows) sc in each st. ch1, turn
Row 9: slip3, sc2, hdc3. ch1, turn
Row 10: sc in each st. ch1, turn
Row 11: sc in each st
Fasten off

These will be sewn so that the longer edge perpendicular to the grain of the rows is sewn to the sternum, and the opposite edge is sewn to the end of the clavicles. The cast-on ends are the ones that articulate with the sternum. 
Sew the anterior ones to the front of the bones, as shown in the images below.





Before sewing the posterior ligament in place, make the interclavicular ligament.

For the interclavicular ligament:
ch18
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 16 chain sts. ch1, turn (17sc)
Row 2: sc in each st
Fasten off

Sew each end of this to the end of the clavicle, next to where you attached the sternoclavicular ligaments (as shown in the image). Secure the centre of the ligament to the top of the sternum.



After this sew the posterior sternoclavicular ligaments to the back of the bones in the same way as you attached the anterior ones


For the costoclavicular ligaments (make 2):
ch6
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 4 chain sts. ch1, turn (5sc)
Row 2: make 2sc in the first st,sc2, sc2tog. ch1, turn (4sc)
Row 3: sc2tog, sc2, make 2sc in the last st. ch1, turn
Row 4: make 2sc in the first st, sc2, sc2tog. ch1, turn
Row 5: sc2tog, sc2, make 2sc in the last st
Fasten off

Sew one side of this to the underside of the clavicle, and the other to the upper side of the end of the first rib/ cartilage section, as shown in the photo. Make sure that it is sewn so that the 'rectangle' slants away from the sternum. Repeat for the first rib/ clavicle on the other side of the body


The next step is to attach the scapula to the clavicle.


For the right shoulder (remember that with the body facing towards you this will be on your left side)

For the acromioclavicular ligament:
ch7
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 5 chain sts. ch1, turn (6sc)
Rows 2 - 24: (23 rows) sc in each st. ch1, turn
Row 25: sc in each st 
Fasten off

Wrap this around the end of the clavicle and sew into place. Sew the 2 ends of the ligament together. The side not sewn to the clavicle needs to be sewn to the acromion, as shown in the images below.


These images (above) show the scapula in front of the ribcage - it should sit behind it but these images are trying to show the attachment of the scapula to the clavicle more clearly

These images show the back of the body with the scapula in its correct positioning


For the coracoclavicular ligaments:
This consists of 2 ligaments

For the trapezoid ligament:
ch5
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 4 chain sts. ch1, turn (5sc)
Row 2: sc2, hdc2. ch1, turn
Row 3: hdc2, sc2. ch1, turn
Row 4: sc in each st
Fasten off

Sew the thicker edge (perpendicular to the grain of the rows) to the clavicle just right of where you attached the previous ligament (i.e. closer to the sternum). It should be sewn to the front-most side of this bone. Attach the edge to the corocoid process of the scapula that's closest to the sternum


For the conoid ligament:
ch7
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 5 chain sts. ch1, turn (6sc)
Rows 2 - 3: (2 rows) sc in each st. ch1, turn
Row 4: sc4, sc2tog. ch1, turn
Row 5: sc2tog, sc3
Fasten off

Sew the edge where the cast on and cast off edges are to the corocoid process to the right of where you attached the previous ligament (i.e. more centrally). It should curve around the curved edge of the corocoid process, as shown in the photo. Make sure that the corner where you fastened off is at the back side of the bone. Sew the other end to the right of where you attached the trapezoid ligament


For the coracoacromial ligament:
ch9
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 4sts, hdc in the last 3 chain sts. ch1, turn (8sts)
Row 2: hdc3, sc5. ch1, turn
Row 3: sc5, hdc3
Fasten off

Sew the thicker end of this (where the hdc sts are) to the end of the corocoid process, and the thinner end to the acromion, just to the left of the acromioclavicular ligament (i.e. further away from the centre of the body)


Back of the shoulder joint


Position the right arm next to the shoulder joint. The following ligaments attach the arm to the scapula.

For the shoulder joint capsule (AKA the glenohumeral ligament):
This consists of several individual ligaments

For the inferior liagment:
ch8
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 6sts. ch1, turn (7sc)
Row 2: make 2sc in the first st, sc6. ch1, turn (8sc)
Rows 3 - 5: (3 rows) sc in each st. ch1, turn
Row 6: make 2sc in the first st, sc7 (9sc)
Fasten off

Sew to the shoulder (one edge to the lower front edge of the glenholm cavity and the other to the lower side of the head of the humerus), as shown in the images. The cast-off edge should be at the top.



For the middle ligament:
ch10
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 8sts. ch1, turn (9sc)
Row 2: make 2sc in the first st, sc8. ch1, turn (9sc)
Row 3: sc in each st. ch1, turn
Row 4: sc9, make 2sc in the last st. ch1, turn (10sc)
Rows 5 - 6: (2 rows) sc in each st. ch1, turn
Row 7: sc10, make 2sc in the last st. ch1, turn (11sc)
Row 8: sc in each st. ch1, turn
Row 9: sc in each st
Fasten off

Sew to the front of the shoulder, just above the inferior ligament. Again one edge should be attached to the head of the shoulder and the other to the glenhold cavity.


For the superior ligament:
ch12
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 10sts. ch1, turn (11sc)
Rows 2 - 6: (5 rows) sc in each st. ch1, turn
Row 7: sc2tog, sc9. ch1, turn
Rows 8 - 12: (5 rows) sc in each st. ch1, turn
Row 13: make 2sc in the first st, sc9. ch1, turn
Rows 14 - 15: (2 rows) sc in each st. ch1, turn
Row 16: sc in each st
Fasten off

Sew to the top of the shoulder, with one side sewn to the head of the humerus and the other to the glenholm cavity. The cast-off edge should be at the back of the shoulder, and the cast-on edge should just overlap with the middle ligament.




For the remainder of joint capsule (posterior side):
ch12
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 10sts. ch1, turn (11sc)
Rows 2 - 12: (11 rows) sc in each st. ch1, turn
Row 13: sc9, sc2tog (10sc)
Fasten off

Sew this to the back of the shoulder, just below the superior ligament.



For the axillary pouch:
ch10
Row 1: sc in the 2nd st from hook and the next 3 chain sts, make 4sc in the next chain st, sc in the following 4 chain sts. ch1, turn (12sc)
Rows 2 - 7: (6 rows) sc in each st. ch1, turn
Row 8: sc4, sc4tog, sc4 (9sc)
Fasten off

Sew to the underside of the shoulder joint



For the coracohumeral ligament:
ch11
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 9sts. ch1, turn (10sc)
Row 2: slip3, sc4, hdc3. ch1, turn
Row 3: sc10. ch1, turn
Row 4: slip3, sc4, hdc3
Fasten off

Sew the thinner end of this to the end of the corocoid process of the scapula, and the thicker end to the top of the head of the humerus, as shown below.

You now need to attach the scapula to the ribs. It should be positioned so that it touches ribs 3-7, with there ribs being spread out approximately equally along its length. (You may also wish to attach rib 8 to the very tip)



For the left shoulder:

This is made in exactly the same way, but the ligaments are attached as the mirror image as before.





That's all from this pattern! I hope you have enjoyed it. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me, either by leaving a comment below, or via my Ravelry or Instagram pages. You can also email me at lhodginscrochet@gmail.com (which is best if your question is more complex or you want a speedy reply).
As always you're very welcome to sell finished products but I do ask that you don't re-post this pattern or claim it as your own. Thank you!





Sources:
[1] Sternoclavicular Joint, Kenhub, 29 oct 2020
[2]  J.T. Hansen, Netter's anatomy flash cards, Fifth Edition, Elsevier