ill Vfes of the Spine. [Book IX; 



of thefe procefies are called the fuperlor oblique, and 

 aicend obliquely from the upper part of the vertebra j 

 two are called the inferior oblique, and defcend ob- 

 liquely from the lower part j two are called the tranf- 

 verfe, and project fideways j and orte is called the 

 fpinous, from its refemblance to a thorn, which pro- 

 jects directly backwards. Of thefe procefTes the 

 fpinous and tranfverfe are the mod prominent. The 

 oblique procefies feem chiefly defigned for the articu- 

 lation of the vertebrae with each other* and are there- 

 fore alfo called articular procefies. All the vertebras 

 are perforated for the reception of the fpinal mar- 

 row, and alfo have notches for the tranfmifiion of 

 nerves. 



The ufes of the fpine are to fupport the "body iri 

 ah erect pofture, and at the fame time, by the num- 

 ber of joints with which it is furnifhed, to admit of a 

 free motion, without danger of compreffing the fpinal 

 marrow, which it is defigned to protect. It is formed 

 larger below than above, becaufe the lower parts of it 

 iiave a greater weight to fupport than the upper ; and 

 bvcaufe, when the body is bent, that Weight acts with 

 the longed lever againft that part of the fpine which 

 is fartheft removed from it. 



In very young children, each vertebra confifts of 

 three pieces of bone united by cartilage. As the 

 fpine contains fo important a part as the fpinal mar- 

 row, we obferve a felicitous care taken by Provi- 

 dence, that the vercebrse Ihould not be disjointed* 

 Befides being connected by ftrong ligaments, pro- 

 portioned to the forces which are to be refilled, the 

 vertebra of the neck enter into each other, thofe of 

 the back are propped by the ribs, and thofe of the 

 loins have fo large a furface of contact, as to render 

 their reparation almoft impracticable. 



The 



