4-1 OUTLINES OF EQUINE ANATOMY. 



upon tlie neiglibouring vertebrae, and wliicTi present a 

 regular set of the processes of the neural arch, including 

 spinous (superior and inferior), oblique (anterior and pos- 

 terior), transverse (simple or compound). True vertebrae 

 are found in the cervical, dorsal, and lumbar regions ; they 

 do not all present all the processes above named, but their 

 processes present a certain amount of regularity. This 

 is different in the coccygeal vertebrae, and as the sacral 

 bones coalesce the vertebrae in these two regions are termed 

 false. The distinction between true and false vertebrae is 

 very artificial. The vertebrae in these different regions 

 present peculiarities which are distinctive, but it will be 

 observed that the characters are gradually assumed ; thus, 

 the vertebrae in the posterior part of a region tend to 

 assume the figure of those of the anterior part of the next. 

 The specific characters are, therefore, best marked in 

 the central vertebrae of a region. We shall, therefore, 

 describe the third cervical, ninth dorsal, and third lumbar 

 vertebrae as typical of their several regions. The sacrum 

 will be examined as a whole, the coccygeal vertebrae will 

 require but slight notice. 



THIHD CEHVIGAL VEHTEBRA 



presents a regular ring and set of processes. The body 

 is long, enlarged at each extremity. The anterior extremity 

 is heart-shaped, looks downwards and forwards, is convex, 

 and has its base superiorly placed. It is convex in all 

 directions, and by a disc of cartilage is connected to the 

 posterior sarface of the body of the second cervical vertebrae. 

 The posterior extremity is mainly occupied by a large con- 

 cave surface, to which the intervertebral disc is attached. 

 Its margin is slightly flat superiorly, and it looks upwards 

 and backwards. Its outer circumferent margin is a sharp 

 ridge ; its upward aspect serves to prevent dislocation 

 downwards. The upper surface of the body presents the 

 arrangement already noticed, and through the lateral and the 

 transverse grooves run venous sinuses. The roughened sur- 

 faces are for attachment of the superior vertebral ligament, 

 and are large in corresponding proportion to the size of the 

 body. T\iQ lateral surfaces of the body are somewhat rough, 

 and converge towards the central line of the inferior part 

 where they meet, in forming a ridge extending from the apex 



