The Different Types of Vertebrae and their Characteristic Features

Body region - Types of vertebra - Number rabbit - Human - Characteristic feature of each type of vertebrae

• Neck - Cervical vertebra - 7 - 7 - A cervical vertebra has a pair of openings known ad vertebrarterial canals through which the blood vessels of the neck pass. The transverse processes are flattened out and are known as cervical ribs.

• Chest - Thoracic vertebra - 12 - 12 - A thoracic vertebra has a large centrum, a large neutral canal and a long neural spine which projects upwards and backwards. It has two facets on each side for articulating with a rib

• Loin - Lumbar vertebra - 7 - 5 - A lumbar vertebra has a large thick centrum and a neural spine that projects upwards and forwards. It has processes for the attachment of abdominal muscles.

• Hip - Sacral vertebra - 3 to 4 - 5 - The sacral vertebrae are fused to form a rigid structure , the sacrum. The neural canal is narrow and the neural spine is reduced.

• Tail - Caudal vertebra - 16 - 4 - The caudal vertebrae are fused. A typical caudal vertebra is a solid mass of bone