VERTEBRAL COLUMN -irregularly shaped, projects laterally from the

region where the arch joins the vertebral body.

*Formula of the vertebral column of dog:  Articular Process
C7T13L7S3CD20 o Transverse Foramen
-at the roof of the transverse processes
*Regions: of C1-C6 dividing the process into
-Cervical -Lumbar -Caudal dorsal and ventral parts.
-Thoracic -Sacral  Spinous Process
Function: -union of the right and left lamina on the dorsal
1. Provides attachment to the different muscles part of the vertebral canal at the mid-dorsal line.
2. Aids in supporting the head Cranial articular process
3. Enclose and protect the spinal cord -“pre-zygapophysis”
*VERTEBRAE -either dorsally or medially
-irregularly shaped bones making up spinal column o Caudal articular process
-atypical or typical in appearance -“post-zygapophysis”
1. Body - either ventrally or laterally
 Cranial Extremity
-slightly convex *REGIONS OF THE VERTEBRAL COLUMN*
 Caudal Extremity 1. CERVICAL VERTEBRAE
-centrally concave/depressed -2 atypical, 5 typical vertebrae
2. Intervertebral Discs -T-processes are divided into ventral and dorsal tubercles
 Nucleus Pulposus a. C1 (Atlas)
-soft center of this fibrocartilaginous structure  Alar Notch
that connect adjacent ventral bodies -at the cranial border of the wings of atlas near
 Anulus Fibrosus the junction of the wing with lateral mass
-concentric layer of dense fibrous tissue that -transmits a branch of vertebral vein and the
surrounds the nucleus pulposus ventral branch of the 1st cervical nerve
3. Vertebral Arch  Cranial articular fovea/surface
-dorsal part of the vertebra arises from body -deep and cup shaped surface of the articulation
-consists 2 upright pedicles and a lamina with the occipital condyle of the skull
projects to midline -forms “atlanto-occipital joint” also called “yes
 Pedicles joint”
-forms basal part  Caudal articular fovea/surface
-present smooth-surface notches -consists 2 shallow glenoid cavities for
o Cranial Vertebral Notches articulation of atlas with axis which it is called
-shallow depression “atlantoaxial joint” or also called “no joint”
o Caudal Vertebral Notches (rotation)
-deep depression  Lateral vertebral foramen
 Laminae -passes obliquely through cranial edge of the
-forms dorsal portion vertebral arch
4. Intervertebral Foramina -transmits the 1st cervical spinal nerve along
-opening between cranial and caudal notches of adjacent with vertebral arteries
vertebrae  Ventral arch
-serves as passageway of spinal nerves and blood -portion of atlas replacing the body of other
vessels. vertebrae
5. Vertebral Foramen b. C2 (Axis)
-space between vertebral arch and body -“epistropheus”
-together forms the vertebral canal where spinal cord is  Dens (odontoid process)
housed. -stubby projection or peg-like eminence of bone
6. Processes extending cranially from body of axis
 Transverse Process  Spinous Process
-elongated ridge-like process

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  Transverse process -Costal facets are absent
-narrow and blade-like process that projects -T-processes are directed cranially as well as
caudolaterally from the body. ventrolaterally
c. C3-C6 -caudal processes protrude between the cranial ones of
-spinous processes become more prominent, and higher succeeding vertebrae.
and inclined strongly cranially.
-transverse processes are larger and more complex and a. L1-L5/L6
has a distinct cranial and -accessory processes are present
-articular surfaces are oriented essentially caudal b. L4
extensions called tubercles -spinous process is prominent and largest compared to
-the body progresses caudally from the 2nd cervical other lumbar vertebrae.
vertebrae, where the vertebral bodies C3-C5 carry a c. L7
ventral crest -its body is slightly shorter the other lumbar vertebrae.
on the dosal plane facing almost direct and ventrally.
d. C7 4. SACRAL VERTEBRAE
-higher spinous process -also called sacrum
-also possess expanded ventral lamina on the transverse  Dorsal Surface
processes. a. Sacral/Median crest
-transverse foramina is absent -represents fusion of spinous process
-marked by presence of costal fovea in its body, ventral b. Dorsal Sacral Foramina
to its caudal vertebral notches for the purpose of - transmits dorsal ventral branches of the first 2
articulation with the head of the first rib. sacral spinal nerves.
 Pelvic/Ventral surface
2. THORACIC VERTEBRAE a. Ventral (Pelvic) sacral foramina
-vertebral bodies are short -transmits ventral branches of the first 2 sacral
-t-process are short spinal nerves.
-spinous process are prominent  Base- faces cranially
-all contain costal fovea a. Promontory
a. T1-T9 -tranverse-ridge located on the ventral part of
-has cranial and caudal costal fovea on each sides for the the base of sacrum.
purpose of articulation with the rib called demifacets -together with ilia, they form the dorsal
-most conspicuous feature is the spine where the height boundary of pelvic inlet.
gradually decreases with succeeding thoracic vertebrae.  Wing
-has little change in length and direction of spine until the -T-process combine to form wing which
7th or 8th vertebra is reached. articulates with the hip bone (sacroiliac joint)
b. T10  S1
-lacks caudal costal fovea -its body is larger than the combined bodies of
c. T11-T13 the other 2 segments (S2 and S3)
-has only 1 complete cranial costal fovea 5. COCCYGEAL (CAUDAL) VERTEBRAE
-its spine is nearly perpendicular to long axis of that -lose their distinctive features as one proceeds caudally.
bone hence designates as Anticlinal vertebra.
*other features of thoracic vertebrae RIBS AND STERNUM
d. Accessory process - surrounds thoracic cavity and serves to house several
-caudal from the pedicle ventral to the caudal articular major organs such as lungs and heart
process and over the dorsal aspect of the intervertebral - rigid framework for ventilator movements
foramen (midthoracic to L5-L6). -bounded by several structures:
e. Mamillary process  Cranial Boundary
-knob-like projection of the T-process of the T2-T10 and  Thoracic inlet- space between the first pair
on the cranial articular processes of T11 to caudal of ribs, body of the first thoracic vertebrae
vertebrae and the 1st sternebra or manubrium
 Caudal Boundary
3. LUMBAR VERTEBRAE
-long bodies

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  Thoracic outlet- last pair of ribs by the - unite to form the costal arch
costal arch, the body of the 12th thoracic (Asternal/False Ribs)
vertebrae and last sternebra or xiphoid c. Floating ribs
process - Costal cartilages do not join the sternum or
 Dorsal Boundary costal arch (R13)
- bodies of the thoracic region and the  Intercostal Space
proximal region of the ribs which are the - Space between 2 adjacent ribs
vertebral extremities that include head, - Where internal and external intercostal
neck, and tubercle of the rib. muscles are located.
 Ventral Boundary
- sternum, distal region of the ribs and the STERNUM
cranial parts of the abdominal muscle. -floor of the thoracic cage
 Lateral Boundary -Composed of 8 unpaired segments called the sternebrae
- ribs along with the intercostal muscles -consecutive sternebrae are joined together by
*Contents of Thoracic Cage intersternebral cartilages.
 Thoracic Cavity – heart, lungs, and major blood a. Manubrium
vessels - 1st sternebra
 Diaphragm -ends cranially ina club-like enlargement.
 Stomach b. Xiphoid process
 Part of large intestine – transverse colon -last sternebra
 Part of small intestine – jejunum - flattened dorsoventrally and provide attachments for
 Digestive accessory organs – liver, gallbladder, several abdominal muscles.
pancreas
 Spleen
 Right kidney and adrenal gland
 Part of the abdominal aorta and the caudal
vena cava
 Abdominal sympathetic nerve

RIBS
 Bony Part
a. Head
-articulation with the:
 R1-R10
-cranial costal fovea of 2
contiguous vertebrae and the
intervening fibrocartilage
 R11-R13
-cranial costal fovea on the body of
the vertebra of the same number.
b. Tubercle
- costal fovea of the t-process of the
vertebra of the same number.
c. Neck
-lies between head and tubercle of ribs.

 Cartilaginous Part
a. R1-R9
- Articulates directly with sternum
(Sternal/True Ribs)
b. R10-R12

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