98 



spread and the 22nd and 23rd being respectively penultimate and ul- 

 timate. On the right the 23rd is a good ultimate, but the arrangement 

 of the other transverse processes is less normal. The promontory is 

 above the 24tli ; but there is a slight projection below it. The 24th 

 is a good 1st sacral vertebra in every respect, excepting that it does 

 not form so large a part of the auricular surface as the next one. The 

 closure of the sacral canal is irregular ; the arches of the 24th and 

 25th unite ; but below them it would be open were it not for a piece 

 of bone that looks pathological. The posterior surface of the last sacral 

 strongly resembles that of a 1st coccygeal. 



Remarks. Some rheumatoid deformities prevented the measuring 

 of the height of the bodies of the vertebrae. This is a good example 

 of the displacement of the thorax upward. The costal element of the 

 19th vertebra it free ; but is has, especially on the left, much more 

 the appearance of a lumbar transverse process than of a rib. The change 

 of the nature of the articular processes occurring above this vertebra, 

 adds to its resemblance to a lumbar. In view of the costal element 

 being free this vertebra has been called a thoracic ; but this is largely 

 a matter of names, an the fact remains that with a small rib on the 

 7th vertebra, the 19th seems to try to make itself a lumbar. The 

 fact that the 24th is not technically the fulcralis cannot prevent ir, 

 from being a 1st sacral, for no one would dream of callicg it anything 

 else. In short this is a case of the thorax moving upward and of the 

 pelvis following it , while the five lowest prsesacral vertebrae adapt 

 themselves to form what is practically a normal lumbar region. 



No. 446. Cat. No. 9379—59. 



Female, white. C. 7, T. 12, L. 4, S. 6, C. 4? 



This spine presents a slight lateral curvature. There is a pair of 

 small cervical ribs. The head, neck and tubercle of the right one meas- 

 ure 2,5 cm. A shaft some 5 mm long projects nearly straight forward 

 from the tubercle and ends free. This rib was probably once separate 

 but is now fused. The left rib is fused. It projects outward beyond 

 the end of the transverse process, measuring 3 cm. The 12th thoracic 

 vertebra bears on the right a free slender costal element, 2,5 cm long. 

 Its greatest breadth, 5 mm is at its end. On the last there is a broad 

 triangular piece of bone, also free, of about the same length, but re- 

 sembling the head of a last rib. 



The 11th ribs measure from 14 to 15 cm. The change of the 

 articular processes occurs between the 11th and r2th thoracic ver- 

 tebrae, but the joint is somewhat transitional. The 23rd vertebra has 

 the right tran verse process of a penultimate lumbar and the left of 

 an ultimate. The spread of the transverse processes of the last three 

 lumbars is practically the same. The 24th. vertebra is certainly the 

 1st sacral. The true promontory is above it, but there is a very slight 

 ossified projection below it. The spinous process is larger than that 

 of a 1st sacral should be, and is connected to that of the 2nd by a 

 bridge of bone. The arches of the first four sacrals are closed. The 

 6th sacral has the appearance of a coccygeal fused with the sacrum. 



