B Y : A S A D H A N N A N

Vertebral Column

The vertebral column consists of a series of unpaired, median irregular bones, the vertebrae, extending from the skull to the tail.

Some vertebrae may become fused (e.g. in the sacral region).

The Name of vertebrae in body region

Cervical

Thoracic

Lumbar

Sacral

Caudal

Vertebral Column

A typical vertebra consists of:

(1) BODY - cylindrical mass articulating cranially (convex) and caudally (concave) with other vertebrae.

(2) ARCH - Two lateral halves which, together with the body, form the vertebral foramen containing the spinal cord and its vessels. The base of the arch (pedicel) has vertebral notches for the passage of spinal nerves and vessels.

(3) PROCESSES -- Articular processes, two anterior and two posterior articulate with adjacent vertebrae.

Spinous Process projects from the middle of the arch for the attachment of muscles and ligaments

Transverse Process, two project laterally from the arch.

Mammillary Process, in most mammals on the posterior thoracic and anterior lumbar vertebrae, between the transverse and anterior articular process.

Vertebral Column

Vertebrae from different regions are distinguished by characteristic features:

Cervical :

Transverse foramina (except C7), atlas and axis unique

Throacic:

Long, caudally pointing spinous processes until T11; Costal fovae for ribs

Lumbar:

Long cranially pointing transverse processes

Sacral:

Fusion, processes become crests, notches for nerves become foramina

Vertebral Column

Type Of

Animal

Cervical Thoracic Lumbar Sacral Caudal

Camel 7 12 7 5 15-20

Horse 7 18 6 5 15-21

Cow 7 13 6 5 18-20

Camel skeleton

07 Cervical

Vertebras

12 Thoracic

Vertebras 07 Lumbar

Vertebras

05 Sacral

Vertebars

15-20

Coccygial

vertebras

CAMEL SKELETON

HORSE SKELETON

07 Cervical

Vertebras

13 Thoracic

Vertebras06 Lumbar

Vertebras

05 Sacral

Vertebars

18-20

Coccygial

vertebras

Cervical Vertebrae

Horses, cow and camel have seven cervical vertebrae.

The first cervical vertebra, Known as the atlas, has large wings and a thick

ventral arch instead of a true vertebral body.

The axis is the longest vertebra in most species. Its cranioventral aspect has

a bony projection called the dens, which represents an embryonic fusion of the

centrum of the proatlas and centrum of the axis

The dens of the ox is wider than that of the horse.

The third through the seventh cervical vertebrae are relatively similar in

architecture in all species.

Cervical Vertebrae

Region total Length 1 m

Atlas: 1st cervical vertebra: dorsally trapezoidal shape

Tuberculum dorsale: is not prominent

Wings slope progessively lateral ward from craniul to caudal

Alar foramen: penetrate the wing

Accessory alar foramen: caudolateral to alar foramen

• Not present in other domestic animals

Atlas

Axis

2nd cervical vertebra

Largest

Spinous process slopes caudally

Transverse process slopes caudally in a longitudinal plane

Ending in a tuberous form (caudal extremity)

axis

3-7 Cervical vertebrae

Spinous process: low in c3 progressively higher & more tuberous in c4

&c5

The ventral surface of vertebral body become increasingly concave in

each successive vertebra

Cranial extremity is convex

C6 shorten

C7 spinous process higher, slender & has rounded extremity

Transverse process small concave ventral border

Cranial extremity convex

Caudal concave

Contains on each side articular facet (fovea articularis caudalis ) for

1st rib

cervical vertebrae

Cervical vertebrae

Thoracic vertebrae

The horse has 18 thoracic vertebrae, whereas ox have 13 and camel has 12

vertebrae. In all species the thoracic vertebraeare short bodied with small

arches; they decrease in length and width caudal to T1.The transverse

processes of the thoracic vertebrae are small, and the spinous processes

are caudally inclined between T1.

Thoracic vertebrae (Camel)

12 in numbers

1st & 2nd longest but progressively length shortens

T12 100mm less than T1

T1 rounded & wide other becoming narrow

Spinous process high, flatend from side & end in a tuberous

fashion

Hight increases in T1 to T5 then slope down

Width increases, T1 to T6 then become narrow

All vertebrae’s Cranial edge sharper than caudal

Thoracic vertebrae

Lumber vertebrae

The horse has six lumbar vertebrae, but some breeds especially Arabians may have five. While Ox and Camel have six and seven lumbar vertebrae respectively. The articularprocesses of lumbar vertebrae have large facets oriented in the sagittal plane. The transverse processes are plate-like and flattened dorsoventrally.

Lumber vertebrae

7 in numbers

Vertebral body is almost equal in length except last 100mm

shorter

Transverse process L1 shortest then start Increases

Spinous process slight increase in hight from L1 to L7

L7 wedge shaped

Lumber vertebrae

Sacrum

The sacrum of the ox is longer than that of the horse and also comprises

five fused vertebrae while horse has 4 to 6. Fusion of the spinous

processes creates a median crest. The articular processes are also

fused, forming lateral crests.

Sacrum

It is formed by the 5 fussed sacral vertebrae

5th segment often not fused with 4th one, so for some researches

sacrum consist of only first 4 sacral vertebrae

Sacrum Charecteristics Powerful cranial articular processes

Dorsal spine not fussed

Longitudinal Axis, more curved in Female than Male

Sacrum

Sacrum

Caudal vertebrae

The horse has 15 to 21 caudal vertebrae, of which only the most cranial

have transverse processes.There are no articular processes. The ventral

surfaces of these vertebrae are grooved for the median caudal artery.

The ox has18 to 20 caudal vertebrae.These are longer and

better developed than those of the horse.

Camel has 15 to 20 Caudal or coccygial vertebrae

Caudal vertebrae

15-20in numbers. Avg. 15-17

Vertebral body progressively constricted

Transverse processes present up to Cd1-Cd5

Becoming rod shape ,slender

spinous process directed dorso caudaly

Cranial extremity larger than caudal ones

Caudal vertebrae

QUESTIONS

1) Write Different Name of regions of vertebral column of Camel.

2) Write The Vertebral Formula of Ox and Horse.

3) Name of the bones forming “Yes” and “No” joints?

4) Enlist Special Features of the Caudal vertebra?

5) Name of the largest vertebrae in the animal body?

6) Differentiate Thoracic and Lumber Vertebra at least 3 points?

7) Composition of Sacral vertebrae in Horse , ox and camel?

8) Name of foramen present in camel Atlas while absent in other

animals?

9) Enlist the Parts of Atypical vertebrae?

10) Identification point of the cranial and caudal sides of vertebrae?