VERTEBRAL COLUMN

The Vertebral column or backbone is the fundamental part of axial skeleton. It

consists of a flexible chain of median irregular unpaired bones called Vertebrae. It extents
from the skull to the end of tail. Some vertebrae are free and movable and are called true
or movable vertebrae. Some others are fused together with the neighbouring ones and are
called fixed or false vertebrae.
The vertebral column is divided into five regions Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar,
Sacral and Coccygeal representing the vertebra of neck, back, loins, rump and tail
respectively.
The Vertebrae may be typical or atypical. A typical vertebra is one, which
possesses a body, an arch and certain process. Those vertebrae that do not have these
general structures are atypical vertebrae.
Typical Vertebra: The body of the vertebra is the fundamental part of the vertebra
and is more or less cylindrical. The anterior part is convex and posterior part is concave.
The adjacent vertebrae are joined together in the region of their bodies by inter vertebral
fibro cartilages. The arch of the vertebrae is placed above the body and contains the
vertebral foramen. The vertebral foramen of each vertebra unites to form the vertebral
canal, which lodges the spinal cord. The processes of the vertebrae are variable in size
(1) Articular processes – four in number for each vertebra two on the anterior and two
on the posterior edge of the arch. The adjacent vertebrae articulate each other in
this region.
(2) Transverse processes – Two in number for each vertebra and project laterally from
the sides of the arch. The ribs are attached here.
(3) Spinous process – One for each vertebra projecting dorsally from the arch.
Cervical Vertebrae – are seven in number and form the skeleton of the neck. The first
two vertebrae are different from the rest and are called atypical vertebrae. The first cervical
vertebra is called Atlas and has no body and spinous processes. It has two lateral
projections called wings or alae. The second cervical vertebra is called Axis and is the
longest of the vertebrae. It has anteriorly a tooth like process called odontoid process. The
3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th cervical vertebrae are typical vertebrae, but the spinous processes
are small.
Thoracic Vertebrae – are thirteen in number and form the skeleton of the back. They
have well developed spinous process and the ribs are attached to these vertebrae. The
transverse processes articulate with the ribs.
Lumbar vertebrae are six in number and form the skeleton of loins. The transverse
processes are very large in lumbar vertebrae
Sacral vertebrae are five in number and are fused together to form the sacrum. Its is
triangular in shape and forms the roof of the pelvic cavity with the hipbone.
Coccygeal Vertebrae – Vary in number from 18 to 20. They gradually diminish in
size from the first to the last.
The number of vertebrae in each region is constant in each species and so they are
expressed as a formula called vertebral formula.
The vertebral formula of Cattle is –
C7 T13 L6 S5 Cy 18 to 20