The dorsal surface (Fig. 6) is narrower at its cranial end than is the
ventral surface. Its cranial border bears laterally a pair of cranial
articular processes (_b_) with their medially directed facets and
between them it is concave, so that a large dorsal opening is left into
the vertebral canal between the last lumbar vertebra and the sacrum.
Caudad of the articular processes are two pairs of tubercles (_f_).
These are the fused cranial and caudal articular processes of the sacral
vertebræ. Caudad of them are the caudal articular processes of the last
sacral vertebra (_d_). Craniolaterad of the middle and cranial tubercles
are =dorsal= (posterior) =sacral foramina= (_g_) for the transmission of
the dorsal rami of the sacral nerves. Three spinous processes (_a_)
appear between these rows of tubercles. They decrease in height caudad.
That part of the surface included between the spinous process and the
tubercles is made up of the fused laminæ of the sacral vertebræ. That
part between the tubercles and a line joining the lateral margins of the
dorsal (posterior) sacral foramina is formed by the fused radices of the
sacral vertebræ.
The lateral surface may be divided into two parts. Craniad is a large
rough triangular area with equal sides and with one of its angles
directed ventrocraniad. It is the lateral face of the pseudo-transverse
process of the first sacral vertebra (Fig. 6, _c_). A smooth curved
surface (the auricular facet) along its ventral edge articulates with
the ilium, while the dorsal portion is rough for attachment of
ligaments. Caudad is the narrow longitudinal triangular area of the
lateral faces of the fused transverse processes of the second and third
sacral vertebræ.
=Caudal Vertebræ.= =Vertebræ caudales= (Fig. 1, _y_, and Figs. 8 and
9).--The caudal vertebræ (21-23 in number) decrease gradually in size to
the last one. Caudad they become longer and more slender and lose the
character of vertebræ. They become finally reduced to mere
centra,--slender rods of bone knobbed or enlarged at their two ends
(Fig. 8). The last one is more pointed than the others and bears at its
caudal end a small separate conical piece, the rudiment of an additional
vertebra.
[Illustration: FIG. 8.
FIG. 9.
Fig. 8.--Caudal Vertebra, from near the caudal end of the tail.
Fig. 9.--Fourth Caudal Vertebra, ventral view. _a_, transverse
processes; _b_, cranial articular processes; _c_, hæmal processes;
_d_, chevron bone.]
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