GOUGH'S CAVE AXIAL SKELETON 



process looks as though it gave rise to a bifid tubercle (the spinous 

 process of the seventh cervical vertebra generally ends in a single 

 tubercle (Williams & Warwick, 1980)), although the secondary 

 centre of ossification is unfused and the process is preserved as a 

 single tubercle. These features suggest that this bone represents the 

 sixth cervical vertebra. 



The spinous process projects nearly horizontally from the body 

 (Table 1), as is common in lower cervical vertebrae. The corpus is 

 wide in the transverse dimension relative to its dorso- ventral diameter. 

 As in all lower cervical vertebrae, the spinal canal is wider trans- 

 versely than dorso- ventrally, and is triangular in outline. 



Thoracic vertebra 1 (fig. 2) 



The first thoracic vertebra is largely complete. The right side trans- 

 verse process is broken off and the left side process is missing a small 

 portion of its lateral end. The posterior tubercle of the spinous 



Fig. 3 Gough's Cave 

 3c, inferior; x 1 . 



fifth thoracic vertebra. 3a, superior; 3b, lateral; 



Fig. 2 Gough's Cave 1 thoracic vertebrael-12 in articulation. 2a, lateral; 

 2b, ventral; x 0.48. Note that reconstructed intervertebral disks of 

 uniform thickness dorso-ventrally have been inserted between some of 

 the vertebral bodies, probably diminishing the degree of curvature that 

 would have obtained during life. 



process is unfused. A crack runs through the left side neural arch 

 lamina and inferior and superior articular facets. The vertebra cannot 

 be viewed from the inferior perspective due to adherent reconstructive 

 materials. 



The spinous process projects nearly horizontally from the corpus 

 (Table 2). The dorso- ventral diameter of the spinal canal is somewhat 

 smaller than the transverse diameter. 



Thoracic vertebra 2 or 3 



The second or third thoracic vertebra is represented by the posterior 



portion of a neural arch only. This fragment includes the left side 



