64 



Bones of the Spine. 



Processus spinosus 



Arcus vertebrae 



Processus 

 transversus 



Processus articu- 



laris superior 



Radix arcus vertebrae 



Corpus vertebrae 



from above 



78 and 79. Vertebra, 



vertebra (10 th thoracic verte- 

 bra , somewhat schematically 

 represented). 



The columna vertebralis (ver- 

 tebral column or spine) extends from 

 the base of the skull as far as the 

 lower end of the trunk. It consists of 

 the single vertebrae superimposed upon 

 one another; these are divisible, accord- 

 ing to the regions in which they lie, 

 into vertebrae cervicales, vertebrae tho- 

 racales, vertebrae lumbales, vertebrae 

 sacrales, and vertebrae coccygeae. 



Each vertebra is approximately 

 ring-shaped and consists of an anterior, 

 thick body, corpus vertebrae, and a 

 feebler, flat arch, arcus vertebrae; the 

 two include between them a wide open- 

 ing, the foramen vertebrate. The sum 

 of all the vertebral foramina forms the 

 canalis vertebralis (spinal canal). 



The corpus vertebrae (vertebral 

 body) possesses an upper and a lower 

 surface by means of which it is connected 

 with neighboring vertebrae; these sur- 

 faces are somewhat rough, flat or slightly 

 depressed. The anterior and the lateral 

 surfaces are convex in the horizontal, 

 somewhat concave in the vertical direc- 

 tion ; the posterior surface, which forms 

 the anterior boundaiy of the foramen 

 vertebrale, is approximately flat and 

 presents especially large foramina nu- 

 tricia. 



The arcus vertebrae (vertebral 

 arch] begins at the body by a narrow 

 root, radix arcus vertebrae (0. T. 

 pedicle) ; above this lies the shallower 

 incisura vertebralis superior, below it 

 the deeper incisura vertebralis inferior; 



the intervertebral notches of two adjoining vertebrae unite to form one foramen intervertebrale 

 (for the passage of vessels and nerves). Close behind these, passing upward on each side is 

 the processus articularis superior with the fades articularis superior, which generally looks 

 backward, while passing downward is the processus articularis inferior with the fades 

 articularis inferior which generally looks forward; between or in front of these, directed 

 lateralward, is the processus transversus. From the middle of the arcus, projecting backward, 

 is seen the processus spinosus. 



Facies 



articularis superior / 

 Processus transversus 



Processus articularis superior 

 Incisura vertebralis superior 



Corpus vertebrae 

 Incisura vertebralis inferior 



Processus articularis inferior 



Processus spinosus 



from the right 



