Part 5

The lateral surface may be divided into two parts. Craniad is a large rough triangular area with equal sides and with one of its angles directed ventrocraniad. It is the lateral face of the pseudo-transverse process of the first sacral vertebra (Fig. 6, c). A smooth curved surface (the auricular facet) along its ventral edge articulates with the ilium, while the dorsal portion is rough for attachment of ligaments. Caudad is the narrow longitudinal triangular area of the lateral faces of the fused transverse processes of the second and third sacral vertebræ.

=Caudal Vertebræ.= =Vertebræ caudales= (Fig. 1, y, and Figs. 8 and 9).--The caudal vertebræ (21-23 in number) decrease gradually in size to the last one. Caudad they become longer and more slender and lose the character of vertebræ. They become finally reduced to mere centra,--slender rods of bone knobbed or enlarged at their two ends (Fig. 8). The last one is more pointed than the others and bears at its caudal end a small separate conical piece, the rudiment of an additional vertebra.

FIG. 9.

Fig. 8.--Caudal Vertebra, from near the caudal end of the tail.

Fig. 9.--Fourth Caudal Vertebra, ventral view. a, transverse processes; b, cranial articular processes; c, hæmal processes; d, chevron bone.]

The parts of a typical vertebra--vertebral arch, transverse processes, cranial and caudal articular processes--may be recognized in the vertebræ as far back as the eighth or ninth. The transverse processes (Fig. 9, a) are directed caudad and decrease rapidly in length. They are very small on the ninth vertebra, but may be recognized for a considerable distance back of this. The spinous process disappears at about the fourth caudal vertebra, and the vertebral canal becomes gradually smaller caudad, until on the eighth or ninth vertebra it becomes merely a groove open dorsad.

Caudad of the third vertebra for a considerable distance, each centrum bears on each lateral face at its cranial end a short =anterior transverse= process, and on its ventral face at its cranial end a pair of rounded tubercles, =hæmal processes= (c), which articulate with a small pyramidal =chevron= bone (d) so as to enclose a canal. These structures disappear caudad.

=Cervical Vertebræ.= =Vertebræ cervicales= (Fig. 10).--The cervical vertebræ number seven. The first two of these are so peculiar as to require a separate description, so that the last five may be first considered.

Passing craniad from the fourth thoracic vertebra to the third cervical there is a gradual transition. The centra of the cervical vertebræ are broader and thinner than those of the thoracic vertebræ, while the vertebral arches and vertebral canal are larger (Fig. 11). The caudal end of each centrum is concave and looks dorsocaudad when the centrum is held with its long axis horizontal. The cranial end of the centrum is convex and looks ventrocraniad when the centrum is horizontal. These peculiarities are more marked in the third vertebra than in the seventh. The spinous processes grow rapidly shorter as we pass craniad; the fifth, sixth, and seventh are directed dorsocraniad, the third and fourth dorsad.

a, spinous processes; b, cranial articular processes; c, caudal articular facet; d, intervertebral foramina; e, transverse process proper; f, processus costarius; g, wing of the atlas; h, dorsal arch of the atlas; i, atlantal foramen.]

The caudal articular processes are situated at the junction of the radices and laminæ; their facets (Fig. 10, c) look ventrocaudolaterad. The cranial articular processes also become more prominent than is the rule in the thoracic vertebræ; they are borne at the junction of radix and lamina and have their facets (Fig. 11, b) directed dorsomediad. The cranial and caudal articular processes of each side are joined by a prominent ridge which is most pronounced in the third, fourth, and fifth vertebræ.

The characteristic feature of the cervical vertebræ is their transverse process, so called. In each of them it arises by two roots, one from the centrum and one from the arch. These two roots, which are broad and thin, converge and unite so as to enclose a canal or foramen, the =foramen transversarium= (Fig. 11, g), for the vertebral artery. Laterad of the foramen the two parts of the process are, in the third cervical, almost completely united, the dorsal part being, however, distinguishable as a tubercle at the caudolateral angle of the thin plate formed by the process as a whole. This dorsal component is the =transverse process proper= (Figs. 10 and 11, e), while the ventral portion represents a rib, and is hence known as the =processus costarius= (f). The expanded plate formed by the union of these two processes is directed nearly ventrad and somewhat craniad in the third, fourth, and fifth vertebræ. The two components of the process gradually separate as we pass caudad; in the fourth and fifth vertebræ the part which represents the transverse process proper forms a very prominent tubercle at the caudolateral angle of the plate formed by the processus costarius. In the sixth (Fig. 11) the two parts are almost completely separated; the dorsal part forms (e) a slender knobbed process, while the processus costarius is divided into two portions (f and f′) by a broad lateral notch. In the seventh the ventral part (processus costarius) is usually quite lacking, though sometimes represented by a slender spicule of bone. In the former case the foramen transversarium is of course likewise lacking.

FIG. 12.--ATLAS, VENTRAL VIEW.

Fig. 11.--a, spinous process; b, cranial articular facet; c, lamina; d, radix or pedicle; e, transverse process proper; f, f′, processus costarius; g, foramen transversarium; h, centrum; i, vertebral canal.

Fig. 12.--a, ventral arch; b, tuberculum anterius; c, lateral masses; d, transverse processes; e, cranial articular facets; f, groove connecting the foramen transversarium with the atlantal foramen; g, atlantal foramen; h, caudal articular facets.]

=The Atlas= (Fig. 10, 1; Fig. 12).--The first cervical vertebra or atlas has somewhat the form of a seal ring. The centrum is absent; it has united with the second vertebra to form the odontoid process or dens. Its place is taken in the atlas by a narrow flat arch of bone, narrower at the ends than in the middle, the =ventral arch= (Fig. 12, a) of the atlas. This connects the lateral, thicker portions of the ring ventrally and bears on its caudal margin a blunt tubercle (=tuberculum anterius=, Fig. 12, b). Laterally the ring is thickened, forming thus the =lateral masses= (c) which are continued into the broad thin transverse processes (Fig. 10, g; Fig. 12, d). Each lateral mass bears at its cranial end on its medial surface a concave, pear-shaped facet, cranial (or superior) articular facet, (Fig. 12, e) for articulation with the condyles of the skull. These facets look craniomediad. Dorsad of each is a foramen, the atlantal foramen (Fig. 10, i; Fig. 12, g), which pierces the dorsal arch at its junction with the lateral mass. Caudal to the facet, on the medial face of each lateral mass, within the vertebral canal, is a tubercle. To the two tubercles are attached the transverse ligament (Fig. 14, b) which holds in place the odontoid process (dens) of the axis.

That part of the lateral mass which bears the articular facet projects craniad of the dorsal arch and is separated by a deep triangular notch from the transverse process. Along the bottom of this notch runs a groove (Fig. 12, f), convex craniad, which connects the cranial end of the foramen transversarium and the atlantal foramen. The vertebral artery passes along it. The foramen transversarium is circular. It is bounded laterally by the lateral masses, and dorsally by the dorsal arch.

The dorsal arch (Fig. 10, h) is two to three times as broad as the ventral, has a thick convex cranial border with a median notch, and a thin concave caudal border.

a, odontoid process or dens; b, cranial articular facets; c, spinous process; d, caudal articular facet; e, transverse process; f, foramen transversarium.]

The caudal articular facets (Fig. 12, h) are borne by the caudal ends of the lateral masses. They are slightly concave, triangular, and look caudomediad, so that their dorsal borders form with the caudal border of the dorsal arch nearly a semicircle. The transverse processes are flat and directed laterad. The attached margin of each is about two-thirds the length of the thinner free margin. The somewhat thicker caudal end of the transverse process projects further caudad than any other part of the vertebra and is separated by a slight notch from the caudal articular facet. From the bottom of this notch the foramen transversarium extends craniad and opens at the middle of the ventral face of the transverse process.

=Epistropheus= or =Axis= (Fig. 10, 2; Fig. 13).--The second cervical vertebra (epistropheus or axis) is not so wide as the atlas but is much longer. Craniad the centrum is continued into a slender conical, toothlike projection, the =dens= or =odontoid process= (Fig. 13, a) which represents the centrum of the atlas. The dens is smooth below for articulation with the ventral arch of the atlas. It is rougher above. Laterad of the dens the centrum bears a pair of large cranial articular facets (b) which look craniolaterad. These have each the form of a right-angled triangle with rounded angles, one side of the triangle being nearly horizontal. Each is separated from the articular face of the dens by a roughened groove. The spinous process (c) runs the length of the vertebral arch. It extends craniad of the vertebral arch nearly as far as the dens, as a flat rounded projection. Caudad of the vertebral arch it projects for a short distance as a stout triangular spine. The caudal articular facets (d) are borne on thickenings of the caudolateral portions of the arch; they face almost directly ventrad. The transverse process (e) is slender and triangular and directed nearly caudad. Its apex reaches no farther than the caudal or articular face of the centrum. Its base is traversed by the foramen transversarium (f).

=Differential Characters of the Cervical Vertebræ.=--It is possible to identify each of the cervical vertebræ:

The first by the absence of the centrum.

The second by the dens or odontoid process.

The third by the small spinous process and slightly marked tubercle of the transverse process, and by a median tubercle on the cranial border of the vertebral arch.

The fourth by the spinous process directed dorsad, and the short thick tubercle of the transverse process not trifid.

The fifth by the spinous process directed craniad, and the more slender spine-like tubercle of the transverse process not trifid.

The sixth by the trifid transverse process.