CHAP, in.] SKELETON OF THE HEAD AND TRUNK. 



37 



and somewhat concave from before backwards. Its anterior and 

 posterior surfaces are flattened, but the former is somewhat convex 

 and the latter somewhat concave. The pedicles have their anterior 

 notches very shallow, but their posterior ones very deep. The 

 neural laminae are almost as wide from before backwards as from 

 side to side, and the neural arch overlaps that of the vertebra 



Fig. 16. FIFTH DORSAL VERTEBRA. 



A. The vertebra seen on its right side. 



B. Anterior view. 



C. Posterior view. 



b. Small tubercle. 



c. Centrum. 



d. Tubercular surface. 



p. Capitular surfaces, 

 s. Neural spine. 

 t. Transverse process. 

 Z. Anterior zygapophysis. 

 3. Posterior zygapophysis. 



next behind. The spinous process is very elongated, pointed and 

 inclined upwards and backwards. The zygapophyses are almost 

 horizontal, the anterior ones (Z) looking upwards and slightly 

 forwards and outwards ; the posterior ones (3) looking downwards 

 and slightly backwards and inwards. 



The transverse process (t) projects outwards from nearly the 

 summit of each pedicle, almost entirely hiding the anterior zyg- 

 apophyses when the vertebra is seen in profile. A little tubercle (b) 

 projects from the upper surface of the distal part of the transverse 

 process.* 



Like almost all the other dorsal vertebrae, the fifth dorsal exhibits 

 certain articular surfaces which are called costal, because they serve 

 for the attachments of the ribs. There are two kinds of such 

 surfaces. One kind, attached to the centrum, are called capitular, 

 because they articulate with the heads, or the capitula, of the ribs. 

 The other kind, attached to the transverse processes, are called 



* "Distal" and "proximal" are two 

 words respectively expressing remoteness 

 from and nearness to a centre or point of 

 attachment. Thus, e.g. the paw is the 



distal part of a limb ; that part of a limb 

 which joins the body is the proximal 

 part. The tip of the tail is " distal ; " 

 its root is "proximal." 



