VERTEBRA PROMINENS. 13 



ment ; the latter surface constricts the base of the process which has 

 given rise to the term neck applied to this part. Upon each side of its 

 apex is a rough depression, for the attachment of the alar ligaments ; 

 and running down from its base on 



the anterior surface of the body of j?- * 



the vertebra a vertical ridge, with a 

 depression at each side for the at- 

 tachment of the longus colli muscle. 

 The lamin.? are large and strong, 

 and unite posteriorly to form a long 

 and bifid spinous process, which is 

 concave beneath. The transverse 

 processes are quite rudimentary, not 

 bifid, and project only so far as 

 to enclose the vertebral foramen, 

 which is directed obliquely out- 

 wards instead of perpendicularly as 

 in the other vertebrae. The su- 

 perior articulating processes are situated upon the body of the vertebra 

 on each side of the odontoid process. They are circular and nearly 

 horizontal, having a slight inclination outwards. The inferior articu- 

 lating processes look downwards and forwards, as do the same processes 

 in the other cervical vertebrae. The superior intervertebral notch is 

 remarkably shallow, and lies behind the articular process as in the 

 atlas. The lower surface of the body is convex, and is received into 

 the concavity upon the upper surface of the third vertebra. 



The Vertebra prominens, or seventh cervical, approaches in character 

 to the upper dorsal vertebrae. It has received its designation from 

 having a very long spinous process, which is single and terminated by 

 a tubercle, and forms a considerable projection on the back part of the 

 neck ; to the extremity of this process the ligamentum nuchae is at- 

 tached. The transverse processes are but slightly grooved along the 

 upper surface, have each a small foramen for the transmission of the 

 vertebral vein, and present only a rudimentary bifurcation at their 

 extremity. Sometimes the anterior tubercle represents a small but 

 distinct rib. 



Dorsal Vertebrae. The body of a dorsal vertebra is as long from 

 before backwards as from side to side, particularly in the middle of the 

 dorsal region ; it is thicker behind than before, and marked on each 

 side by two half-articulating surfaces for the heads of two ribs. The 



* A lateral view of the axis. 1 . The body, the figure is placed on the de- 

 pression which gives attachment to the longus colli, 2. The odontoid process. 

 3. The smooth facet on the anterior surface of the odontoid process which arti- 

 culates with the anterior arch of the atlas ; the facet for the transverse ligament 

 is beneath No. 2, where the constriction called the neck of the odontoid process 

 is seen; the bulk of the process between 2, 3, would represent its head. 4. 

 The lamina. 5. The spinous process. 6. The transverse process pierced ob- 

 liquely by the vertebral foramen. 7. The superior articular surface. 8. The 

 inferior articular process. 



