12 THE SKELETON OF THE CAT 
cervical vertebrz are broader and thinner than those of the 
thoracic vertebre, while the vertebral arches and vertebral 
canal are larger (Fig. 11). The caudal end of each centrum 
is concave and looks dorsocaudad when the centrum is held 
with its long axis horizontal. The cranial end of the centrum 
is convex and looks ventrocraniad when the centrum is hori- 
zontal. These peculiarities are more marked in the third 
vertebra than in the seventh. The spinous’ processes grow 
Fic. 10.—CERVICAL VERTEBRA, SIDE VIEW. 
a, spinous processes; 4, cranial articular processes; ¢, caudal articular facet; d, 
intervertebral foramina; ¢, transverse process proper; /, processus costarius: & 
wing of the atlas; 4, dorsal arch of the atlas; z, atlantal foramen. 
rapidly shorter as we pass craniad; the fifth, sixth, and seventh 
are directed dorsocraniad, the third and fourth dorsad. 
The caudal articular processes are situated at the junction 
of the radices and lamine; their facets (Fig. 10, ¢) look 
ventrocaudolaterad. The cranial articular processes also 
become more prominent than is the rule in the thoracic verte- 
bras; they are borne at the junction of radix and lamina and 
have their facets (Fig. 11, 4) directed dorsomediad. The 
cranial and caudal articular processes of each side are joined 
by a prominent ridge which is most pronounced in the third, 
fourth, and fifth vertebre. 
The characteristic feature of the cervical vertebre is their 
transverse process, so called. In each of them it arises by 
two roots, one from the centrum and one from the arch. 
