Rabbit Cervical Vertebrae Anatomy Quiz

Vertebral Column of a Rabbit

• A rabbit's vertebral column has 7 cervical vertebrae, 13 thoracic vertebrae, 7 lumbar vertebrae, 4 sacral vertebrae, and 16 caudal vertebrae, totaling 47 vertebrae.

Intervertebral Discs

• Intervertebral discs function as shock absorbers and allow for flexibility in the vertebral column.

Synsacrum

• Birds have a synsacrum, a fused structure similar to the urostyle in tadpoles, formed by the fusion of the last thoracic vertebrae and all lumber, sacral, and a few caudal vertebrae.
• Ostriches also exhibit a synsacrum as part of their skeletal structure.

Cervical Vertebrae in Mammals

• Mammals typically have 7 cervical vertebrae, with exceptions like sloths and manatees.

Intervertebral Disc Composition

• The central part of an intervertebral disc is composed of a gel-like substance called the nucleus pulposus.

Bird Skeleton

• In birds, the synsacrum is fused with the pelvic girdle for support during bipedal locomotion.
• The last 4-5 vertebrae in birds fuse to form the pygostyle.

Coccygeal or Tail Bone

• In apes and humans, the coccygeal or tail bone is formed by the fusion of 3-4 caudal vertebrae.

Urostyle

• In frogs and toads, the terminal vertebrae form the urostyle.

Cervical Vertebrae in Rabbits

• The typical cervical vertebra in a rabbit has a characteristic feature of being very small and light.

Thoracic Vertebrae in Rabbits

• The 7th cervical vertebra in a rabbit has a long neural spine.
• The thoracic vertebrae in a rabbit connect to the ribs via costal facets.

Lumbar Vertebrae in Rabbits

• The lumbar vertebrae in a rabbit are characterized by being large and heavy.

Sacrum in Rabbits

• The sacrum in rabbits is a composite structure formed by the fusion of 4 sacral vertebrae.