CHAPTER III. 



ANATOMY. 



Anatomy is a description of the structures that make up the 

 body. 



THE SKELETON. 



* (Plate ni.) 



The skeleton is the framework for the support of the softer 

 structures, and is composed of 216 bones (exckisive of the teeth) 

 of various sizes and forms. 



Fl'At bones, such as the skull, ribs and scapula, are found 

 covering vital organs ; long bones are found principally in the 

 extremities, for the support of the body. 



The spinal column is composed of bones of very irregular 

 shape, which are divided into five groups according to their 

 location, and are known as vertebne. Commencing at the back 

 of the head, the first seven are called the cervical vertebra^, or 

 bones of the neck; of these the first is called atlas, the second 

 axis; the next eighteen are called the dorsal vertebrae, forming 

 the main part of the back; the next six, the lumhar vertebrse, 

 form the loins ; the croup or sacrum is composed of five bones, 

 which in the adult animal are united together as one bone; 

 and following this are found the coccijigeal or tail bones, num- 

 bering from thirteen to twenty. All vertebra have irregular 

 projections of varying length, called spinous processes; these 

 are named, according to location, dorsal, cervical, etc.; the 

 third to sixth dorsal spinous processes (often called dorsal 

 spines) are very long and form the Avithers. 



The ribs are eighteen on each side, attached above to the 

 dorsal vertebrae and below, the first eight (true ribs) by 

 cartilage to the sternum or breastbone; the remaining ten, 

 known as false or floating ribs, are attached by cartilage to 

 one another and indirectly to the sternum ; they form the walls 

 of the chest and serve as a protection for the heart, lungs, and 

 large blood vessels. 



