76 



MAMMALIAN ANATOMY 



the ventral caudal part of the side of the lamina, and is small, and 

 projects dorsally and laterally. It is always in the ventral third of 

 the maximum height of the vertebra when the ventral surface of the 

 body is horizontal. The articular surface faces laterally, veutrally, 

 and toward the tail. In no other of the long-spined cephalic thoracic 

 vertebra can the caudal articular surface be seen on the lateral aspect 



FIG. 51. 



First. Second. 



Third. 



Fourth. 



Sixth. 



THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH CERVICAL AND THE FIRST FOUR THORACIC VERTEBRA, SIDE VIEW. 



of the bone. It shares with the second thoracic vertebra alone the 

 distinct cephalic articular process, the ventrally directed transverse 

 process, and the long distance between the lateral edge of the cephalic 

 articular process and the tip of the transverse process. 



The spinous process of the first thoracic is long, and usually is 

 exceeded in length by the spinous process of the second alone. It 

 points only slightly toward the tail. 



The body resembles the bodies of the cervical vertebra? : it is flat- 

 tened from the dorsal to the ventral side. The neural canal is higher 

 than in any other thoracic vertebra, and its roof is more strongly 

 arched. 



The Second Thoracic Vertebra mav be distinguished from the first 



i/ O 



in that, while possessing cephalic articular processes, it lacks distinct 

 caudal articular processes. The cephalic articular surfaces, moreover, 

 are not so widely separated, and encroach somewhat upon the cephalic 

 edge- of the laminae. It is distinguished from all caudal thereto by 



