Axial Skeleton - Vertebrae Locomotion Protects spinal cord Suspends trunk
Vertebrae Centrum Body of vertebra Surrounds or replaces notochord
Centrum shape Amphicelous (most fish, tailed amphibians) Opisthocelous (terrestrial salamanders, gar) Acelous (mammals) Procelous (reptiles, frogs)
Vertebrae Vertebral arch Neural arch Neural spine = spinous process Neural canal = vertebral canal
Vertebrae Hemal arch Chevron bone in amniotes Ventral archway for caudal blood vessels Hemal spine
Vertebrae Transverse process Diapophysis
Vertebrae Zygaphophyses Tetrapod feature Prezygapophyses – cranial Postzygapophyses - caudal
Development of vertebrae Ancient Sclerotomes around notochord Intersegmental from the somites Cartilage replacement of notochord Bone replacement of notochord
Vertebrae in advanced fish Centrum replaces notochord Diplospondyly in tail
Vertebrae in fish Regional differentiation Dorsal = Trunk Caudal = tail
Vertebrae - fish Craniovertebral joint No movement
Vertebrae - Amphibians Terrestrial life Spine must support body Resists bending but provides mobility
Phylogeny of tetrapod vertebrae Tetrapod centrum is the descendant of the Pleurocentrum, not the intercentrum
Vertebrae - amphibians Zygapophyses
Vertebrae - amphibians Regional differentiation Cervical – usually one Trunk = dorsal – ribs present Sacral – one Caudal – no zygapophyses Urostyle – fused post-sacral vertebrae in anurans
Skeletal support Cervical vert. Trunk vert. with ribs Trunk vert. with ribs Sacral vert. Caudal vert.
Vertebrae - amphibians Craniovertebral joint 1-2 occipital condyles
Vertebrae - Reptiles Centrum replaces notochord Procoelous centrum Pleurocentrum is phylogenetic ancestral centrum
Vertebrae - Reptiles Zygapophyses Not in tail
Vertebrae - reptiles Cervical – 8 including atlas and axis Dorsals = Trunk (thoracic and lumbar) Sacral – 2 for stronger support Caudal – Chevron bone = hemal arch – Autonomy
Vertebrae - reptiles Craniovertebral joint Ball & socket type of joint Single occipital condyle
Vertebrae - reptile Atlas = C1 Axis = C2 – Odontoid process for rotation Proatlas in crocodiles anterior to atlas
Vertebrae - Birds Centrum is heterocoelous
Vertebrae - birds Numerous cervical vertebrae Single occipital condyle Trunk = Thoracic vertebrae (tend to fuse) Synsacrum – Last thoracic, all lumbar, 2 sacral, some caudal Caudal vertebrae – Pygostyle supports tail feathers
Vertebrae - Mammals Centrum is acelous 7 cervical Thoracics vary Lumbars vary Sacrum 3-5 Caudal – Chevron bone – Coccyx
Vertebrae - Mammal Intervertebral disc Fibrocartilage Pulpy nucleus
Vertebrae - Mammal Craniovertebral joint 2 occipital condyles Atlas Axis Flex, extend, circle, rotate
Key Points – Evolutionary trend of vertebrae Regional differentiation? Head/neck? Sacral stability? Zygapophyses? Loss of notochord?