Gross Studies on the Thoracic and Lumbar Vertebrae in Chital (Axis axis)

Abstract

The present study had been conducted on the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae of chital. Thirteen thoracic vertebrae were characterized by long supraspinous processes which increased in height and breadth up to the fourth vertebra and then gradually decreased upto last . Its backward inclination increased up to the tenth and then subsequently decreased upto last. The spine of the thirteenth thoracic vertebra was vertical. There were six lumbar vertebrae. The transverse processes were spreading out laterally and slightly bent forward. The length of the first transverse process was the shortest, which gradually increased up to the last. The width of last two processes was less than the same of first four vertebrae. The height of spinous process decreased gradually from first to the last. The mammillary processes of lumbar vertebrae were fused with the anterior articular processes.