26 DORSAL VERTEBRAE. 



They are circular and nearly horizontal, having a slight inclination 

 outwards. The inferior articulating processes look downwards and 

 forwards, as do the same processes in the other cervical vertebra?. 

 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 vertebra. 

 It has received its designation from 

 having a very long spinous process, 

 which is single and terminated by a 

 tubercle, and forms a considerable pro- 

 jection on the back part of the neck ; 

 to the extremity of this process the 

 ligamentum nuchac is attached. The 

 transverse processes have each a small 

 foramen for the transmission of the 

 vertebral vein. 



Dorsal Vertebra. The body of a dor- 

 sal vertebra is longer from before back- 

 wards than 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 

 pedicles are strong and the lamince. broad; the foramen round, and 

 the inferior intervertebral notch of large size. The spinous process 

 is long, almost perpendicular in direction, and terminated by a 

 tubercle. The transverse processes are large and strong, and directed 

 obliquely backwards. Upon their points is a small depression for 

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

 are vertical, the superior facing directly backwards, and the inferior 

 directly forwards. 



The peculiar vertebras 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 arti- 

 cular 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, 

 and have no articulation with the corresponding ribs. The trans- 

 verse processes of the twelfth dorsal vertebra are quite rudi- 

 mentary. 



* 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 extremity of the transverse 

 process marked by an articular surface for the tubercle of a rib. 8. The two superior 

 articular processes looking backwards. 9. The two inferior articular processes looking 

 forwards. 



