VCA 201

Radiological anatomy
Canine Spine
CERVICAL SPINE
Lateral view:
Identify the following using diagram below:

A.C1 to C7
B.Part of T1

C1-atlas
1. Wings
2. Lateral vertebral foramen
3. Dorsal arch
4. Ventral arch
Axis –C2
5. Dorsal spinous process
6. Incisura vertebralis
cranialis/caudalis (cranial and
caudal notch)
Other:
7. Vertebral body with cranial and
caudal extremities
8. Intervertebral disc space between
adjacent vertebral bodies
9. Dorsal surface of vertebral bodies
(floor of vertebral canal)
10. Spinous processes (C4-7)
11. Transverse processes (C4-7)
12. Lamina ventralis of C6

(Spine of scapula can be seen

overlying C7)
CERVICAL SPINE
Ventrodorsal view:
Identify the following using diagram below:

A.C1 to C7

Caudal Skull:
1. Occipital condyles
2. Paracondylar processes
C1-atlas:
3. Cranial articular surfaces of C1
4. Ala atlantis (wing)
5. Alar notch
6. Caudal articular surfaces
C2-axis:
7. Dens
8. Cranial articular processes of C2,
lateral to the dens
9. Dorsal spinous process and
caudal end overlapping C3
(arrows)
10. Transverse processes
C3-7:
11. Transverse processes
12. Location of articular processes of
adjacent vertebrae
13. Dorsal spinous processes
Caudal LUMBAR SPINE and sacrum
Large dog
Lateral view:
Identify the following using diagram below:
L4-7, and sacrum

On various lumbar vertebrae identify:

1. Spinous processes
2. Lamina - roof plate
3. Vertebral body with cranial and
caudal extremities
4. Dorsal surface of vertebral bodies
5. Transverse processes
6. Articular processes - (a) cranial
and (b) caudal
7. Incisura vertebralis
cranialis/caudalis
8. Intervertebral foramina between
adjacent vertebrae
9. Vertebral canal
10. Accessory process – small (seen
overlying intervertebral foramina)
11. Mamillary process
12. Intervertebral disc spaces
between adjacent vertebral bodies
13. Sublumbar musculature
THORACO-LUMBAR SPINE On various lumbar vertebrae identify:
Smaller dog 1. Spinous processes
Lateral view: 2. Lamina - roof plate
Identify the following using diagrams: 3. Vertebral body with cranial and
caudal extremities
A.T12,13 4. Dorsal surface of vertebral bodies
B.L1-7 5. Transverse processes
C.Sacrum 6. Articular processes - (a) cranial
and (b) caudal
7. Incisura vertebralis
cranialis/caudalis
8. Intervertebral foramina between
adjacent vertebrae
9. Vertebral canal
10. Accessory process – small (seen
overlying intervertebral foramina
at T13-L1)
11. Intervertebral disc spaces
between adjacent vertebral bodies
12. Sublumbar musculature
THORACIC SPINE
Lateral view:
Identify the following using diagram below:

A. T13 with Rib 13 articulating on cranial vertebral body

B. All vertebral bodies from T13 cranially till T6

On thoracic vertebrae identify:

1. Spinous processes
(find anticlinal vertebra T11)
Note caudal inclination of spinous
processes cranially and T12 /T13
with cranially inclined processes
2. Intervertebral foramina between
adjacent vertebrae
3.Dorsal aspect of Ribs
LUMBAR SPINE
Ventrodorsal view:
Identify the following using diagram below:

A.T10-13 with ribs

B.L1-7 On various lumbar vertebrae identify:
C.Sacrum and pelvis 1. Spinous processes
2. Transverse processes
3. Articular processes