450 LUMBAR VERTEBRA. 



A F 128 B pression for the other half. 



The lateral processes are 

 "broad. The spinous are trian- 

 gular, long, ending in a tuber- 

 cle and bending downward so 

 as to overlap each other. The 

 oblique processes are vertical 



the superior facing directly backward the inferior as di- 

 rectly forward. The spinal foramen is round and large. 

 The transverse processes are directed backward, are large 

 and long, and have their front surfaces at the extremities 

 smooth, for articulation with the tubercle of the ribs. This 

 is true of all except the last two; they have no articulating 

 surfaces. The intervertebral foramina for the nerves are 

 large. 



DORSAL VERTEBRA INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS. 



The first and the last two dorsal present individual pecu- 

 liarities. The first has a full articulating surface on each 

 side, and receives the whole head of the first rib, and also 

 has at its inferior edge a half articular surface for the half 

 head of the second rib. The flatness of the body and its 

 projecting spinous process resembles it to the cervical. The 

 three lower dorsal approximate in their appearance to those 

 of the loins. They have full depressions in the middle and 

 sides, for their corresponding ribs, and the last two have 

 no articular surfaces on their transverse processes. The 

 tenth dorsal has occasionally on its transverse process the 

 articular face. 



LUMBAR VERTEBRAE COMMON CHARACTERISTICS. (Fig. 129.) 



The lumbar vertebrae are five in number; occupy the 

 lower part of the column, and are much the largest in size 



FIG. 128, A represents a dorsal vertebra seen from above. 1 Spinous pro- 

 cess. 2 Transverse process. 3 Articular facet for the articulation of the rib. 

 4 5 Articular process and notch. 6 7 Body. 8 Foramen for spinal marrow. 



FIG. 128, B represents a side view of the same vertebra. 1 Body. 2 Ar- 

 ticular face for head of the rib. 3 Superior articular process. 4 5 Transverse 

 process and articular face. 6 Spinous process. 7 Inferior articular process. 

 8 Notch, intervertebral. 



