THE ROTATION VERTEBRM 



21 



forward. The foramen is triangular, and larger than in any 

 other region. The peculiar cervical vertebrae are the first, second, 

 and seventh. 



FIG. 1 



Anterior 

 tubercle of trans- 

 verse process 



Foramen for vertebral 

 artery. 



Posterior tubercle of 

 transverse process 



A cervical vertebra. (Gray.) 



The Rotation Vertebrae 



Transverse 

 process. 



Superior 

 articular 



"process. 



Inferior 

 irticiitar 

 process. 



THE ATLAS 



The atlas (supporting globe of head) has no body or spinous 

 process, but is a large ring with articular and transverse pro- 

 cesses. The posterior part of the ring corresponds to the 

 neural canal of the other vertebrae; the anterior part is occupied 

 by the odontoid process of the axis. The anterior boundary 

 of the ring is the anterior arch, with a small tubercle in front 

 for the longus colli muscle. Behind the tubercle is an articular 

 surface for the odontoid process. At the sides of the ring are 

 the lateral masses bearing the superior and inferior articular 

 processes. All the articular processes of the atlas and the 

 superior ones of the axis are in front of the vertebral notches. 

 The superior articular surfaces of the atlas are oval and con- 

 verge in front. They look upward and inward and a little back- 

 ward, and form a cup for the occipital condyles. These may be 

 partially subdivided by a transverse groove, and below the inner 



