The characteristic internal articulation of the vertebrates and its importance in the organisation of the stem are best seen in the study of the skeleton. Its chief and central part, the cartilaginous or bony vertebral column, affords an obvious instance of vertebrate metamerism; it consists of a series of cartilaginous or bony pieces, which have long been known as vertebrae (or spondyli). Each vertebra is directly connected with a special section of the muscular system, the nervous system, the vascular system, etc. Thus most of the "animal organs" take part in this vertebration. But we saw, when we were considering our own vertebrate character (in Chapter 1.11), that the same internal articulation is also found in the lowest primitive vertebrates, the acrania, although here the whole skeleton consists merely of the simple chorda, and is not at all articulated. Hence the articulation does not proceed primarily from the skeleton, but from the muscular system, and is clearly determined by the more advanced swimming-movements of the primitive chordonia-ancestors. (FIGURES 1.153 TO 1.155. Sole-shaped embryonic disk of the chick, in three successive stages of development, looked at from the dorsal surface, magnified about twenty times, somewhat diagrammatic. Figure 1.153 with six pairs of somites. Brain a simple vesicle (hb). Medullary furrow still wide open from x; greatly widened at z. mp medullary plates, sp lateral plates, y limit of gullet-cavity (sh) and fore-gut (vd). Figure 1.154 with ten pairs of somites. Brain divided into three vesicles: v fore-brain, m middle-brain, h hind-brain, c heart, dv vitelline-veins. Medullary furrow still wide open behind (z). mp medullary plates. Figure 1.155 with sixteen pairs of somites. Brain divided into five vesicles: v fore-brain, z intermediate-brain, m middle-brain, h hind-brain, n after-brain, a optic vesicles, g auditory vesicles, c heart, dv vitelline veins, mp medullary plate, uw primitive vertebra.) It is, therefore, wrong to describe the first rudimentary segments in the vertebrate embryo as primitive vertebrae or provertebrae; the fact that they have been so called for some time has led to much error and misunderstanding. Hence we shall give the name of "somites" or primitive segments to these so-called "primitive vertebrae." If the latter name is retained at all, it should only be used of the sclerotom--i.e., the small part of the somites from which the later vertebra does actually develop.