98 



OSTEOLOGY 



is placed on a lower level than the latter, and its inferior border is prolonged 

 downward, so as to overlap the upper and forepart of the vertebra below. The 

 upper surface is concave transversely, and presents a projecting lip on either side ; 

 the lower surface is concave from before backward, convex from side to side, and 

 presents laterally shallow concavities which receive the corresponding projecting 

 lips of the subjacent vertebra. The pedicles are directed lateralward and backward , 

 and are attached to the body midway between its upper and lower borders, so that 

 the superior vertebral notch is as deep as the inferior, but it is, at the same time, 



Anterior tubercle of 

 transverse process 

 Foramen 

 transversarium 

 Posterior tubercle of 

 transverse process 



Transverse process 





Superior articular 

 process 



Inferior articular 

 process 



process 

 FIG. 84. A cervical vertebra. 



narrower. The laminee are narrow, and thinner above than below; the vertebral 

 foramen is large, and of a triangular form. The spinous process is short and bifid, 

 the two divisions being often of unequal size. The superior and inferior articular 

 processes on either side are fused to form an articular pillar, which projects lateral- 

 ward from the junction of the pedicle and lamina. The articular facets are flat 

 and of an oval form: the superior look backward, upward, and slightly medial- 

 ward: the inferior forward, downward, and slightly lateralward. The transverse 

 processes are each pierced by the foramen transversarium, which, in the upper six 



Superior articular surface 

 Articular pillar 



Body 



Anterior tubercle of 

 transverse process 



Sulcusfor nerve 



Posterior tubercle of 

 transverse process 



Spinous process 



FIG. 85. Side view of a typical cervical vertebra. 



vertebrse, gives passage to the vertebral artery and vein and a plexus of sympa- 

 thetic nerves. Each process consists of an anterior and a posterior part. The 

 anterior portion is the homologue of the rib in the thoracic region, and is there- 

 fore named the costal process or costal element: it arises from the side of the body, 

 is directed lateralward in front of the foramen, and ends in a tubercle, the anterior 

 tubercle. The posterior part, the true transverse process, springs from the 

 vertebral arch behind the foramen, and is directed forward and lateralward; it 

 ends in a flattened vertical tubercle, the posterior tubercle. These two parts 



