12 



THE SKELETON OF THE CAT 



cervical vertebrze are broader and thinner than those of the 

 thoracic vertebr£e, while the vertebral arches and vertebral 

 canal are larger (Fig. ii). 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 v^entrocraniad when the centrum is hori- 

 zontal. These peculiarities are more marked in the third 

 vertebra than in the seventh. The spinous processes grow 



%. 



Fig. io. — Cervical Vertebr/e, Side View. 



a, spinous processes; 6, cranial articular processes; c, caudal articular facet; d, 

 intervertebral foramina; e, transverse process proper; /, processus costarius; g, 

 wing of the atlas; /i, dorsal arch of the atlas; ?', atlantal foramen. 



rapidly shorter as we pass craniad ; the fifth, sixth, and seventh 

 are directed dorsocraniad, the third and fourth dorsad. 



The caudal articular processes are situated at the junction 

 of the radices and laminae; their facets (Fig. lO, r) look 

 ventrocaudolaterad. The cranial articular processes also 

 become more prominent than is the rule in the thoracic verte- 

 brae ; they are borne at the junction of radix and lamina and 

 have their facets (Fig. ii, /;) directed dorsomediad. The 

 cranial and caudal articular processes of each side are joined 

 by a prominent ridge which is most pronounced in the tliirtl, 

 fourth, and fifth vertebrae. 



The characteristic feature of the cervical vertebrae is their 

 transverse process, so called. In each of them it arises by 

 two roots, one from the centrum and one from the arch. 



