50 



MAMMALIAN ANATOMY 



The neural arch has almost always a greater width than height. 

 Its width may exceed that of the body, but from cephalic to caudal 

 end it is as long as the body. 



The pedicles are directed dorsally at right angles to the body. 



The laminse have a greater cephalo-caudal diameter than have the 

 pedicles. This increased diameter is principally due to the articular 

 processes, which stand out prominently on each side, but in some cases 



FIG. 20. 



Neural Spine. 



Transverse Process. 



Facet for Tubercle of Rib. 

 Cephalic Half -facet for Head of Rib. 



Neural Arch. 



Caudal Intervertebral Notch. 



Caudal Half-facet for Head of Rib. 



Body. 

 THORACIC VERTEBRA, SIDE VIEW. 



are not entirely distinct from the lamina?. The articular processes 

 have smooth articular surfaces. The direction of these surfaces 

 serves to distinguish the cephalic processes from the caudal processes,, 

 and hence also the cephalic end of the vertebra from the caudal end 

 (Fig. 21). The cephalic articular surfaces always face dorsally or 

 dorsally and medially. The caudal articular surfaces always face 

 ventrally or ventrally and laterally. 



The lateral surface of the pedicle either is occupied by the root 

 of the transverse process or is free. In the latter case it is gently 

 concave dorso-ventrally, and serves for muscular attachment. The 

 lateral surface of the lamina is usually convex. 



The inner surface of the arch is concave from side to side, and 

 either flat or gently convex from the cephalic to the caudal end. It is 

 smooth, and furnishes attachment to the membrane of the spinal cord. 



