52 



MAMMALIAN ANATOMY 



physis of the body. The centres for the lateral masses assist also in 

 the formation of the body ; the neuro-central sutures, which in young- 

 bones are seen separating the parts, therefore cut off considerable 

 portions of the body at the sides (Fig. 22). The tips of the spinous 

 and transverse processes, which for a long time remain cartilaginous, 

 eventually ossify from separate centres. 



CERVICAL VERTEBRA. 



The Cervical Vertebrae have a number of characters in common 

 which readily distinguish them from the vertebrae of the other regions. 

 With the single exception of the seventh cervical vertebra, all may be 

 recognized at once by the foramen which is seen on the cephalic and 

 the caudal aspect of the bone at the root of each transverse process, 

 close to the body (Fig. 22). These foramina are .the openings of a 



FIG. 22. 



Neuro-Lentral suture 



PLAN OF A CERVICAL VERTEBRA. END VIEW. 



cephalo-caudal canal piercing the transverse process and giving passage 

 to the vertebral artery. The seventh cervical vertebra has no such 

 canal in its transverse processes, and is to be recognized by the absence 

 of the characters peculiar to the thoracic, lumbar, and caudal vertebra 1 , 

 and by its general resemblance to the other cervicals. 



The first and second cervical vertebra? are so unlike the rest that 

 they must be described separately. 



