296 THE SKELETON OF THE RABBIT. 



ii. The post-zygapophyses, or posterior articular 

 processes, project backwards from the top of 

 the hinder end of the neural arch. The articular 

 surfaces are slightly convex, and face outwards 

 and downwards. 



iii. The anapophyses are a pair of small backwardly 

 directed processes from the hinder end of the 

 neural arch, below the post-zygapophyses and 

 above the intervertebral notches. 



2 The cervical vertebrae. 



These are seven in number in the rabbit, as in 

 almost all other mammals. As a group they are 

 characterised by the shortness of their centra ; the 

 small size of their spinous processes ; and the fusion 

 of the ribs with the vertebrae to form the perforated 

 transverse processes, through which the vertebral 

 arteries run. 



a. The first, or atlas vertebra, differs very markedly 

 from all the others : its more important charac- 

 ters are as follows : 



i. The neural canal is very large, and is divided into 

 two parts by a transverse ligament, which is 

 often preserved in the dried skeleton : of 

 these, the upper and larger is the true neural 

 canal, giving passage to the spinal cord; 

 while the lower and smaller one lodges the 

 odontoid process of the second vertebra. 



ii. The centrum is probably represented by the 

 odontoid process, which has become detached 

 from the atlas, and fused with the centrum 

 of the second vertebra. The mid-ventral 

 portion of the atlas is very narrow, and is 

 produced backwards into a short process. 



iii. The neural spine is an inconspicuous ridge, most 

 prominent in front. 



iv. The transverse processes are broad horizontal 



