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The Cervical Column

Cervical Vertebrae

 

  • These are found in the neck region of a mammal.
  • The distinguishing feature is a pair of verte-braterial canals in the neural arch, through which the blood vessels of the neck pass.
  • Another feature is the structure of the transverse processes.
  • They are flattened out and are known as cervical ribs.
  • The first cervical vertebra is known as the Atlas.
  •  It has a large neural canal and no centrum.
  • The second cervical vertebra, is called axis.
  • The other five cervical vertebrae have no specific names.
  • They have the same structure.
  • The cervical vertebrae possess numerous processes for muscle attachment.