226 



THE SKELETON 



tral or neural cavity, through which the spinal cord passes. 

 This arch is called the neural arch, and from it are given 

 off seven processes or projections of bone. 



One extends from the very center of the arch dorsally, 

 and is called the spinous process. It is the end of this pro- 

 cess that one can feel as he passes his finger down the 

 middle of the back. Two lateral processes extend from 

 each side of the neural arch, and to these the ribs are 

 attached. They are shorter than the spinous process. 

 The remaining four processes are simply raised projec- 

 tions lined with cartilage, and are called articular pro- 

 cesses. Two face dorsally, two ventrally, and they connect 



II 



Fig. 86 —1, cervical vertebra; II, lumbar vertebra ; 1, centrum ; 2, neural cavity; 

 3, Bpinous process ; 4, transverse processes ; ^, top view ; B, side view. 



with similar processes on other vertebr£e, thus permit- 

 ting the bones to articulate and move upon one another. 

 The centrum is smooth on each side, and between succes- 



