i) Cervical vertebrae:
Of the seven cervical vertebrae the third, fourth, fifth and sixth
present similar features, hence are called the typical cervical,
while the first, second and seventh present special features, hence
are called atypical.
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Figure 20.4 A typical cervical
a) A typical cervical its vertabra (Fig.
20.5) is the smallest of all vertebrae in which anterior and posterior
surfaces are flat. Transverse measurement is greater than its anterior-posterior
measurement. Its posterior surface has two foramen transversarium
for passage of vertebral arteries. Spinous process is bifid.
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Figure 20.5 Basic structure of a typical vertebra
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