u 



DORSAL VERTEBRJE. 





pedicles are strong, and the laminae broad and thick ; the spinal fora- 

 men small and round, 



Fig. 8 * and the inferior inter- 



vertebral notch of large 

 size, the superior can 

 scarcely be said to exist. 

 The spinous process is 

 long, prismoid, directed 

 very obliquely down- 

 wards, and terminated 

 by a tubercle. The 

 transverse processes are 

 large and strong, and 

 directed obliquely back- 

 wards. Upon the an- 

 terior and superior as- 

 pect of their summits is 

 a small facet for the 

 articulation of the tubercle of a rib. The articular processes are 

 vertical, the superior facing directly backwards, and the inferior di- 

 rectly forwards. 



The peculiar vertebrae in the dorsal region are the first, ninth, 

 tenth, eleventh, and twelfth. The first dorsal vertebra approaches 

 very closely in character to the last cervical. The body is broad from 

 side to side, and concave above. The superior articular processes are 

 oblique, and the spinous process horizontal. It has an entire articular 

 surface for the first rib, and a half surface for the second. The ninth 

 dorsal vertebra has only one half articular surface at each side. The 

 tenth has a single entire articular surface at each side. The eleventh 

 and twelfth have each a single entire articular surface at each side ; 

 they approach in character to the lumbar vertebrae ; their transverse 

 processes are very short, trifid at their summits, and have no articu- 

 lation with the corresponding ribs. The transverse processes of the 

 twelfth dorsal vertebra are quite rudimentary, and its inferior ar- 

 ticular processes look outwards. 



Lumbar Vertebrae. These are the largest pieces of the vertebral 

 column. The body is broad and large, and thicker before than behind. 

 The pedicles very strong ; the laminae short, thick, and broad ; the in- 

 ferior intervertebral notches very large, and the spinal foramen large 

 and oval. The spinous process is thick and broad. The transverse 

 processes (costiform processes) are slender, pointed, and directed only 

 slightly backwards. The superior articular processes are concave, and 



* A lateral view of a dorsal vertebra. 1. The body. 2, 2. Articular facets 

 for the heads of ribs. 3. The pedicle. 4. The superior intervertebral notch. 

 5. The inferior intervertebral notch. 6. The spinous process. 7. The ex- 

 tremity of the transverse process marked by an articular surface for the tubercle 

 of a rib. 8. The two superior articular processes looking backwards. Q. The 

 two inferior articular processes looking forwards. 



