OSTEOLOGY. 45 



of the anterior articular surface, to a roughened tubercle 

 situated below the centre of the posterior articulatory 

 surface. This is the inferior spinous processes, and to 

 them, as well as to the lateral surfaces, which are slightly 

 concave, longiis colli is attached. The pedicles present 

 the superior root of the transverse process arising from 

 their external surface, extending obliquely from the an- 

 terior oblique process downwards and backwards. The 

 superior spinous process arises as a sharp ridge, becoming 

 expanded, rough, and blended with the posterior oblique 

 processes posteriorly ; to it are attached ligamentum nuchse 

 and the superior spinous ligament. On either side of this 

 the superior surface of the laminae is concave and rough, 

 anteriorly presenting a groove circumscribing the anterior 

 oblique process, posteriorly a circular line, marking the 

 commencement of the roughened upper surface of the pos- 

 terior oblique process. The anterior, and posterior margins 

 of the laminae between the oblique processes are concave, 

 and afford attachment to the interlaminal ligaments. The 

 oblique processes are all very large, present extensive 

 roughened surfaces for muscular attachment, and large 

 circular articulatory surfaces. The anterior articulatory 

 facets look upwards and inwards, and are slightly convex, 

 the posterior downwards and outwards, and are slightly 

 concave. The two anterior oblique processes are connected 

 by the above-mentioned sharp anterior margin of the 

 laminae, the posterior processes by a thick concave roughened 

 line, which is the posterior margin of the laminse, and 

 serves to unite two roughened prominences separated from 

 the articulatory surfaces by a slight groove. The trans- 

 verse processes each present two roots separated by a 

 canal, through which the vertebral artery vein and branch 

 of the sympathetic nerve pass. The upper root is derived 

 from the outer surface of the pedicle at a line extending 

 obliquely from its antero- superior to its postero-inferior 

 angle. The other root commences at the supero- lateral part 

 of the body of the vertebra. The vertebral canal is con- 

 tinued backwards to the posterior part of the body by a 

 smooth groove ; anteriorly it commences at a funnel-shaped 

 opening just behind the anterior articulatory surface. The 

 process has two tubercles on its free margin, both of which 

 are rough and tuberous. The anterior extends obliquely 

 downwards and forwards, the posterior runs horizontally 



