VERTEBEAL COLUMN 267 



e. The neural spine or spinous process is a mediaa 



dorsal crest, projecting upwards and forwards- 

 from the top of the neural arch. 



f. The hypapophysis is a median ventral process from 



the under surface of the centrum, projecting 

 downwards and forwards. 



g. The transverse processes are a pair of large flattened. 



processes with expanded ends, projeotiag forwards, 

 downwards, and outwards from the sides of the. 

 centrum. 



h. The zygapophyses or articular processes are borne 

 on the two ends of the neural arch : they articulate 

 with those of the adjacent vertebrffi, so as to limit, 

 torsion and lateral displacement of the vertebral 

 column. 



i. The pre-zygapophyses, or anterior articular pro- 

 cesses, project upwards from the anterior end 

 of the neural arch. The articular surfaces 

 are concave, and turned inwards towards each 

 other ; above them the processes extend up- 

 wards to form the stout metapophyses. 

 ii. The post-zygapophyses, or posterior articular 

 processes, project backwards from the top of the 

 hinder end of the neural arch. The articular 

 surfaces are sHghtly convex, and face outwards, 

 and downwards. 



j. The anapophyses are a pair of small, baekwardly 

 directed processes from the hinder end of the 

 neural arch, below the post-zygapophyses and 

 above the intervertebral notches. 



2. The cervical vertebrae. 



These are seven in number in the rabbit, as in 

 almost all other mammals. As a group they are 

 characterised by the shortness of their centra ; the 

 small size of their spinous processes ; and the fusion 

 of the ribs with the vertebrse to form the perforated. 



