S2 TEE BONES. 



other domesticated animals, are transformed into real glenoid cavities.' The transverse 

 processes are carried directly outwards and a little backward; the lip which borders 

 each is slightly raised ; of the two foramina which replace the anterior notch, one only 

 exists, and this penetrates to the interior of the spinal canal ; the other is merely a simple 

 notch. 



In the axis, the odontoid process is cylindrical, narrow at its base, and bent a little 

 upwards; the lateral facets of this eminence represent true condyles.^ The spinous 

 process is very thin and undivided, and is curved forward above the laminse of the atlas. 

 The anterior notches are never converted into foramina. 



The third cervical vertebra is the largest, and the succeeding ones gradually 

 diminish in thickness to the last, contrary to what occurs in the other species. The 

 seventh does not show the spinous process so developed as in ruminants and pachyderms 

 (see Fig. 1). 



2. Dorsal vertebra. — In the Dog the dorsal vertebrae are formed on the same model as 

 those of the Horse ; but their spinous processes are in general narrower and thicker. The 

 tenth always has its spinous process vertical, triangular, and terminated in a sharp point. 

 The last three have no posterior facets for the articulation of the heads of the ribs, and. 

 exhibit, in the conformation of their articular processes, the same disposition as the 

 lumbar vertebras. In the Cat, the transverse processes of the three last dorsal vertebraj 

 are thin, sharp, and turned backwards , they never possess facets for the tuberosity of 

 the ribs. 



3. Lumbar vertebral. — In the Dog and Cat, the lumbar vertebrse are remarkable for 

 their strength, due to their length, thickness, and the development of the eminences of 

 inseition. The spinous process is low, and becomes acute in the last vertebra. The 

 transverse processes incline very much forward and downward ,- they become longer from 

 the first to the second-last bone , in the latter they become contracted, and in the seventh 

 vertebra they are still more diminished, and terminate in an obtuse point. The tubercle 

 of the anterior articular process is extremely prominent, and the posterior notches are 

 surmounted by a small, very acute prolongation, directed backwards, which becomes 

 more developed towards the anterior vertebrae. Tliis small prolongation exactly 

 represents the transverse process of the dorsal vertebra. 



4. Sacrum. — The three vertebrae which form the sacrum of carnivora are early con- 

 solidated. The supersacral spine constitutes a thin sharp ridge; while the lateral 

 surfaces for articulation with the ossa innominata are turned quite outwards and are nearly 

 vertical. 



5. Coccygeal vertebrie. — The vertebras of the coccyx are very strong and tuberous. 

 The first five or six are as perfect as the true vertebra, and comport themselves in every 

 respect like them. The last are small V-shaped bones, which M, Goubaux has described 

 by the name of hypsiloid bones. 



COMPAKISON OF THE VERTKBKAL COLUMN OP MAN WITH THAT OF THE DOMESTICATED 



ANIMALS. 



The vertebral column of Man is composed of twenty-nine bones . twenty-four vertebrse, 

 the sacrum, and four pieces constituting the coccyx. The twenty-four vertebrae are thus 

 distributed : 



Cervical vertebrae 7 



Dorsal „ 12 



Lumbar „ . . ... 5 



In all these vertebrae, the bodies are slightly excavated at the two extremities, while 

 in the domesticated animals, the superior or anterior is convex, and the inferior or posterior 

 concave. 



1. Cervical vertebrie. — These are wide and short. The spinous processes are mode- 

 rately developed and bifid at their summits ; the transverse processes are also divided 

 into two branches — a posterior and an anterior. 



2. Dorsal vertebree. — In these vertebras, the bodies increase in thickness from the 

 first to the last. In the first as well as in the last dorsal vertebra, the spinous process is 

 almost immediately directed backwards; in the middle portion of this region these 

 processes are very obliquely directed downwards and backwards. 



^ (A glenoid cavity is a shallow, oval, articular depression.) 

 (A condyle is an articular eminence representing an ovoid segment. Condyles 

 always correspond to the glenoid cavities in the articulations.) 



