8 



VETERINARY STUDIES 



Fig. 8. — Typical Dorsal 

 Vertebra, Front View. 



1, Head of the body; 2, 

 superior spinous process ; 

 3, transverse process. 



brffi which have marked individual peculiarities. The atlas, 

 immediately supporting the head, has a small thin body with no 



head, but instead, two surfaces for 

 articulating with the occipital bone. 

 The axis is long, and has, in place of 

 the head, a peculiar projection known 

 as ''odontoid process." This process 

 is shaped somewhat like a tooth. Hence 

 the name. The superior process is 

 long from front to rear. The seventh 

 cervical vertebra has a long superior 

 process, somewhat resembling those of 

 dorsal vertebrae. It also presents a 

 small articular surface for articulation 

 with the head of the first rib. 

 Dorsal vertebrae. — These are located in the back, and are 18 

 in number. They also have certain general characteristics. The 

 body is short. There are four articular cavities, two in front 

 and two behind for the heads of the 

 ribs. Superior processes are long and 

 flat frpm side to side, transverse proc- 

 esses short and small. None of the 

 dorsal vertebra differ very markedly 

 from this general type. 



Lumbar vertebrae. — These make up 

 the framework of the loin. In gen- 

 eral the body is longer and wider 

 than the dorsal. The superior processes are also shorter. The 

 transverse processes are long, flat, and thin. 



Sacrum. — This constitutes the croup. 

 It consists of five pieces, united in the 

 adult. It articulates with the last 

 lumbar vertebra in front, with the first 

 coccygeal vertebra behind, and with 

 the pelvis on each side. This portion 

 of the spinal column is triangular, 

 with the base forward. 



Coccygeal vertebrae. — These are 15 

 to 21 in number, and located in the tail. The spinal canal is 

 developed in the first three or four. The first one is occasionally 

 united to the sacrum. 



Fig. 9. — Typical Lumbar 

 Vertebra, Front View. 



1, Body; 2, head; 3, su- 

 perior spinous process; 4, 

 transverse process. 



Fig. 10. — Lateral View op 

 the Sacrum. 



1, Spinal canal, anterior 

 portion; 3, superior spinous 

 processes. 



