Comparative study of vertebral column of camel, ox and horse

1. B Y : A S A D H A N N A N

2. Vertebral Column
The vertebral column consists of a series of unpaired, median
irregular bones, the vertebrae, extending from the skull to
the tail.
Some vertebrae may become fused (e.g. in the sacral region).
The Name of vertebrae in body region
Cervical
Thoracic
Lumbar
Sacral
Caudal

3. Vertebral Column
A typical vertebra consists of:
(1) BODY - cylindrical mass articulating cranially (convex) and caudally (concave)
with other vertebrae.
(2) ARCH - Two lateral halves which, together with the body, form the vertebral
foramen containing the spinal cord and its vessels. The base of the arch
(pedicel) has vertebral notches for the passage of spinal nerves and vessels.
(3) PROCESSES -- Articular processes, two anterior and two posterior articulate
with adjacent vertebrae.
 Spinous Process projects from the middle of the arch for the attachment of
muscles and ligaments
 Transverse Process, two project laterally from the arch.
 Mammillary Process, in most mammals on the posterior thoracic and anterior
lumbar vertebrae, between the transverse and anterior articular process.

4. Vertebral Column
Vertebrae from different regions are distinguished by characteristic
features:
 Cervical :
Transverse foramina (except C7), atlas and axis unique
 Throacic:
Long, caudally pointing spinous processes until T11; Costal
fovae for ribs
 Lumbar:
Long cranially pointing transverse processes
 Sacral:
Fusion, processes become crests, notches for nerves become
foramina

5. Vertebral Column
Type Of
Animal
Cervical Thoracic Lumbar Sacral Caudal
Camel 7 12 7 5 15-20
Horse 7 18 6 5 15-21
Cow 7 13 6 5 18-20

6. Camel skeleton

7. 07 Cervical
Vertebras
12 Thoracic
Vertebras 07 Lumbar
Vertebras
05 Sacral
Vertebars
15-20
Coccygial
vertebras
CAMEL SKELETON

8. HORSE SKELETON

9. 07 Cervical
Vertebras
13 Thoracic
Vertebras
06 Lumbar
Vertebras
05 Sacral
Vertebars
18-20
Coccygial
vertebras

10. Cervical Vertebrae
Horses, cow and camel have seven cervical vertebrae.
The first cervical vertebra, Known as the atlas, has large wings and a thick
ventral arch instead of a true vertebral body.
The axis is the longest vertebra in most species. Its cranioventral aspect has
a bony projection called the dens, which represents an embryonic fusion of the
centrum of the proatlas and centrum of the axis
The dens of the ox is wider than that of the horse.
The third through the seventh cervical vertebrae are relatively similar in
architecture in all species.

11. Cervical Vertebrae
 Region total Length 1 m
 Atlas: 1st cervical vertebra: dorsally trapezoidal shape
 Tuberculum dorsale: is not prominent
 Wings slope progessively lateral ward from craniul to caudal
 Alar foramen: penetrate the wing
 Accessory alar foramen: caudolateral to alar foramen
• Not present in other domestic animals

12. Atlas

13. Axis
 2nd cervical vertebra
 Largest
 Spinous process slopes caudally
 Transverse process slopes caudally in a longitudinal plane
 Ending in a tuberous form (caudal extremity)

14. axis

16. 3-7 Cervical vertebrae
 Spinous process: low in c3 progressively higher & more tuberous in c4
&c5
 The ventral surface of vertebral body become increasingly concave in
each successive vertebra
 Cranial extremity is convex
 C6 shorten
 C7 spinous process higher, slender & has rounded extremity
 Transverse process small concave ventral border
 Cranial extremity convex
 Caudal concave
 Contains on each side articular facet (fovea articularis caudalis ) for
1st rib

17. cervical vertebrae

19. Cervical vertebrae

20. Thoracic vertebrae
The horse has 18 thoracic vertebrae, whereas ox have 13 and camel has 12
vertebrae. In all species the thoracic vertebraeare short bodied with small
arches; they decrease in length and width caudal to T1.The transverse
processes of the thoracic vertebrae are small, and the spinous processes
are caudally inclined between T1.

21. Thoracic vertebrae (Camel)
 12 in numbers
 1st & 2nd longest but progressively length shortens
 T12 100mm less than T1
 T1 rounded & wide other becoming narrow
 Spinous process high, flatend from side & end in a tuberous
fashion
 Hight increases in T1 to T5 then slope down
 Width increases, T1 to T6 then become narrow
 All vertebrae’s Cranial edge sharper than caudal

23. Thoracic vertebrae

24. Lumber vertebrae
The horse has six lumbar vertebrae, but some breeds
especially Arabians may have five. While Ox and Camel have
six and seven lumbar vertebrae respectively. The articular
processes of lumbar vertebrae have large facets oriented in
the sagittal plane. The transverse processes are plate-like and
flattened dorsoventrally.

25. Lumber vertebrae
 7 in numbers
 Vertebral body is almost equal in length except last 100mm
shorter
 Transverse process L1 shortest then start Increases
 Spinous process slight increase in hight from L1 to L7
 L7 wedge shaped

27. Lumber vertebrae

28. Sacrum
The sacrum of the ox is longer than that of the horse and also comprises
five fused vertebrae while horse has 4 to 6. Fusion of the spinous
processes creates a median crest. The articular processes are also
fused, forming lateral crests.

29. Sacrum
 It is formed by the 5 fussed sacral vertebrae
 5th segment often not fused with 4th one, so for some researches
sacrum consist of only first 4 sacral vertebrae
 Sacrum Charecteristics
 Powerful cranial articular processes
 Dorsal spine not fussed
 Longitudinal Axis, more curved in Female than Male

31. Sacrum

32. Sacrum

33. Caudal vertebrae
The horse has 15 to 21 caudal vertebrae, of which only the most cranial
have transverse processes.There are no articular processes. The ventral
surfaces of these vertebrae are grooved for the median caudal artery.
The ox has18 to 20 caudal vertebrae.These are longer and
better developed than those of the horse.
Camel has 15 to 20 Caudal or coccygial vertebrae

34. Caudal vertebrae
 15-20in numbers. Avg. 15-17
 Vertebral body progressively constricted
 Transverse processes present up to Cd1-Cd5
 Becoming rod shape ,slender
 spinous process directed dorso caudaly
 Cranial extremity larger than caudal ones

35. Caudal vertebrae

37. QUESTIONS
1) Write Different Name of regions of vertebral column of Camel.
2) Write The Vertebral Formula of Ox and Horse.
3) Name of the bones forming “Yes” and “No” joints?
4) Enlist Special Features of the Caudal vertebra?
5) Name of the largest vertebrae in the animal body?
6) Differentiate Thoracic and Lumber Vertebra at least 3 points?
7) Composition of Sacral vertebrae in Horse , ox and camel?
8) Name of foramen present in camel Atlas while absent in other
animals?
9) Enlist the Parts of Atypical vertebrae?
10) Identification point of the cranial and caudal sides of vertebrae?