COMPARATIVE ANATOMY

• VERTEBRAL COLUMN • consists of approximately 50 irregular bones
• the vertebral bodies are connected by a fibrocartilaginous tissue known as Intervertebral discs with an inner Nucleus pulposus and outer Anulus fibrosu'
• Putting all the vertebral foramina together, the vertebral canal is formed where the spinal cord is located
• articular process – two cranial and two caudal
• Spinous (spine) process – single, projects dorsally from the midline of the arch
• Horse - the highest point of the withers corresponds to the 4th and 5th thoracic vertebrae
• 7 th cervical vertebra – The transverse processes are undivided and lack transverse foramen, except in the PIG
• Mamillary process – is found in most mammals on the caudal thoracic and cranial lumbar vertebrae
• Accessory process – when present, it is found between the transverse and caudal articular processes
• Vertebral formula of the dog: C7T13L7S3Cd20-23
• Horse VF: C7T18L6S5Cd15-21
• Ruminants

  L: C7T13L6S5Cd18-20
• Ruminants

  S: C7T13L6S4Cd16-18
• Pig: C7T14-15L6-7S4CD20- 23
• The vertebral bodies are connected by a cartilaginous tissue called Intervertebral disc
• Nucleus pulposus is the inner part of intervertebral disc while the outer part is Annulus Fibrosus
• Atlas articulates with occipital condyle of skull which allos the flexion and extension
• the atlas of carnivores have no alar foramen, but have alar notch instead.
• the axis is AKA epistropheus
• the dens or odointoid process of dogs are tooth shaped while in others, spout shape.
• In the axis, Carnivores have a cranial vertebral notch while other species is replaced by a lateral vertebral foramen
• The spinous process of the axis of horse is bifid.
• the c7 of ox and horse do not have transverse process, but domestic animals and pigs do
• The spinous process of C7 is most developed in ox
• The ventral plate of C7 is present in ox
• The nuchal ligament functions to support the weight of the head
• The Nuchal Ligament is attached to the spine of axis and the spine of T1
• The two parts of Nuchal Ligament are: Funniculus Nuchae and Lamina Nuchae
• The Funniculus Nuchae is cord like and it attaches from skull to T1
• Lamina nuchae attached from c2 to c6
• The dog has funniculus nuchae only
• Cat and Pig do not have Nuchal Ligament
• The costal facets are the articulation of ribs to the thoracic vertebra
• The anticlinal/diaphragmatic vertebra of dogs and cats is T10
• The anticlinal vertebra of pigs and small ruminants is T12
• The anticlinal vertebra of ox is T13
• The anticlinal vertebra of Horse is T16
• Naco incisive notch of bovine skull

  
• • the infraorbital foramen - the artery, vein and nerve are transmitted by this foramen

  
• Only the horse and bocine has a prominent muscular process