A COMPARATIVE MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF VERTEBRAL BODIES IN HUMANS AND SOME OTHER MAMMALS - ABSTRACT OF A PAPER IN VOL 103, NO 5

The form of the human vertebral column is different from those of othe r mammals, The aim of this study is to determine the morphological cha racteristics of the vertebral bodies, as a first step toward revealing the relationship between form and function of the human vertebra in o rdinary posture and movement. The materials are vertebrae of humans, c himpanzees, macaques (Japanese monkeys) and Japanese serows, Measured items are ventral and dorsal heights, superior and inferior sagittal d iameters, as well as superior and inferior transverse diameters, From these measurements the following results are indicated for the human v ertebra. The dorsal height is always smaller than the ventral height i n the 4th and 5th lumbar vertebrae. The transverse diameter increases remarkably from the 3rd to the 7th cervical vertebra and from the 8th thoracic to the last lumbar vertebra, The formal proportions of the ce rvical and lumbar vertebral bodies can be described as ''thick and sho rt.''