CHARACTERS 



THE CERVICAL VERTEBRAE. 



41 



The Body is the largest and most solid part of a vertebra. Above and below, it 

 is slightly concave, presenting a rim around its circumference ; and its surfaces are 

 rough, for the attachment of the intervertebral fibre-cartilages. In front it is convex 

 from side to side, concave from above downwards. Behind, flat from above down- 

 wards and slightly concave from side to side. Its anterior surface is perforated by 

 a few small apertures, for the passage of nutrient vessels ; whilst on the posterior 

 surface is a single irregular-shaped aperture, or occasionally several large apertures, 

 for the exit of veins from the body of the vertebra, the verise basis vertebrae. 



The Pedicles project backwards, one on each side, from the upper part of the 

 body of the vertebra, at the line of junction of its posterior and lateral surfaces. 



The concavities above and below the pedicles are the intervertebral notches; they 

 are four in number, two on each side, the inferior ones being generally the deeper. 

 When the vertebras are articulated, the notches of each contiguous pair of bones 

 form the intervertebral foramina, which communicate with the spinal canal and 

 transmit the spinal nerves. 



The Laminse are two broad plates of bone, which complete the vertebral arch 

 behind, inclosing a foramen which serves for the protection of the spinal cord ; 

 they are connected to the body by means of the pedicles. Their upper and lower 

 borders are rough, for the attachment of the ligamenta sub/Lava. 



The Articular Processes, four in number, two on each side, spring from the 

 junction of the pedicles with the laminas. The two superior project upwards, 

 their articular surfaces being directed more or less backwards, the two inferior 

 project downwards, their articular surfaces looking more or less forwards. 



The Spinous Process projects backwards from the junction of the two laminse, 

 and serves for the attachment of muscles. 



The Transverse Processes, two in number, project one at each side from the 

 point where the articular processes join the pedicle. They also serve for the 

 attachment of muscles. 



CHARACTERS OF THE CERVICAL VERTEBRJE. 



The Body (fig. 1) is smaller than in any other region of the spine, and broader 

 from side to side than from before backwards. The anterior and posterior surfaces 

 are flattened and of equal depth ; the former is placed on a lower level than the 



Fig. 1. A Cervical Vertebra. 



Anterior Tu.ltTc1t of Tran.Prae.' 

 1'aramen for Vertebral Ar 

 fittrwvTulerclt <,} Trans. P roc. 



Transverse Process. 



uperivr Articular Pracftt. 

 -Inferior Articular Erects* 



latter, and its inferior border is prolonged downwards so as to overlap the upper 

 and fore part of the vertebra below. Its upper surface is concave transversely, 

 and presents a projecting lip on each side ; its lower surface being convex from 

 side to side, concave from before backwards, and presenting laterally a shallow 

 concavity, which receives the corresponding projecting lip of the adjacent verte- 

 bra. The pedicles are directed obliquely outwards, and the superior intervertebral 



