83 



formed of the lateral process of the atlas united to the lower lateral 

 processes of some of the other cervical vertebra;. 



The upper lateral processes seem to be scarcely developed, as the 

 mass slielves down above towards the lower edge, and has on its 

 upper part a series of jjerfoi'atious on each side, showing the axes of 

 the nerves and vessels between the united vertebra;. 



The cervical vertebrte of a Balceiici in the British Museum, that 

 was dredged up at Lyme Eegis, are united together not only by the 

 body of the vertelira^, Init by the neural arches, which form a large 

 vaulted arch, and ])y the lateral processes. 



Fig-. .3. 



^. 



■;J//. zf^A /^j 



f'er\ ical vertebra; of Bal<T)ia 



Lvme Rejris. 



The lateral processes of the atlas are large ; they arise from the 

 exterior side of the articuhu* canity, the edge of the upper side being 

 on a level with the top of the concavity, and the blunt end is rather 

 curved up ; the underside gradually shelves from the blunt outer 

 end to the lower margin of the articular ca^-ity. 



The upper lateral processes of the second, third, fourth, fiftli, 

 sixth, and seventh ccrvicals are all united together at the ends, the 

 process of the second vertebra being the thickest, largest, and bent ; 

 it is united to the hinder surface of the end of the lateral process of 

 the atlas by a thick osseous band. The rqiper lateral processes of 

 the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh are thinner and smaller, 

 diminishing in size as they proceed backwards ; the process of the 

 third is directed backwards to meet the end of the foiirth, whicli, 

 like those of tlie fifth, sixth, and seventh, is directed rather forwards 

 towards the head. 



The lower lateral process of the second vertebra is very large, thick, 

 confluent ■«'ith tlie lower ])art of the lateral process of the first ver- 

 tebra or atlas, but produced far beyond it, and thickened below and 

 at the end, whieh is eonsidcralily dilated. The lower process of tlie 

 third vertebra is much smaller, or ratlier compressed, than that of 



fi 2 



