SOLIPEDA. 



Ftg. 497. 



717 



Skeleton of tJie Horse. (After Stubbs) 



Skull. 9, orbit ; 11, 12, superior maxillary bone ; 12, infra-orbital foramen; 15, intermaxillary; 16, 

 OS nasi; 17, 18, 19, lower jaw; 18, mental foramen; 19, coronoid process. Cervical region. a, c, the 

 atlas ; g, h, k, the vertebra dentata ; o, body ; r, transverse ; s, t, oblique, and w, spinous processes of 

 cervical vertebrae ; z, process from the root of the transverse process of the sixth cervical vertebrae, 

 assisting with its fellow to form the groove in which the longus colli muscle is lodged. Dorsal region. 

 c, oblique, and e, e, spinous processes of the two anterior dorsal vertebrae ; 5 to 18, continuation of dorsal 

 spinous processes. Lumbar region. a, b, c, d, e, /, lumbar vertebrae ; I, the sacrum ; p, superior, and r, 

 inferior, caudal vertebrae. Sternal region. a, b, c, osseous and cartilaginous pieces of the sternum with 

 the cartilaginous attachments of the true ribs. Shoulder. h, i, o, the scapula ; b, g, k, the os humeri. 



sometimes advances forwards above the atlas 

 and is prolonged posteriorly above the third, 

 or even the fourth, cervical vertebra, thus af- 

 fording an ample expansion for muscular at- 

 tachments. In the Solipeds, this spinous crest 

 (Ar) is but moderately developed, extending 

 backwards so as to overlap the third vertebra 

 to some extent ; but its anterior prolongation 

 is wanting. The transverse apophyses are 

 short, and perforated by the vertebral canal, 

 while the articular processes are but moder- 

 ately developed, and directed backwards to 

 articulate with those of the succeeding ver- 

 tebra. 



The five posterior cervical vertebrae are 

 remarkable for their strength and mobility ; 

 their bodies are of great proportionate size, 

 and articulated together by broad sub-globular 

 surfaces that allow a considerable extent of 

 motion ; the vertebral laminae are broad and 

 massive, and the articular processes well de- 

 veloped and connected together by large 

 articulating surfaces. The spinous processes 

 are almost wanting except upon the sixth 

 and seventh vertebrae, that belonging to the 



latter being of considerable size and turned 

 backwards, so as to represent the commence- 

 ment of the dorsal series of spines. The 

 bodies of the sixth and seventh vertebrae of 

 the neck, more particularly of the former, are 

 prolonged inferiorly into a central crest of 

 considerable size, which projects downwards 

 and backwards, and gives origin to the longus 

 colli, which muscle is likewise lodged in a kind 

 of groove formed by osseous plates derived 

 from the transverse processes. 



The dorsal vertebra in the Solipeds are 

 invariably eighteen in number, and are distin- 

 guished by the shortness of their transverse 

 apophyses, each of which is provided with an 

 articulating surface, whereby it is connected 

 with the corresponding rib as well as by 

 similar articulations situated on each side 

 upon the anterior and posterior extremities 

 of their bodies to which the heads of the ribs 

 are affixed. The spinous processes of the 

 anterior dorsal vertebrae are of great length, 

 and dilated at their extremities, where thev 

 give origin to the broad elastic cervical liga- 

 ment by means of which the weight of the 



