Frog : Typical vertebra

• A vertebra has a disc like body known as centrum. The centrum of the typical vertebra of frog is procoelous i.e., concave anteriorly and convex posteriorly.

• Dorsally centrum bears an arch, the neural arch.

• It encloses a spaceous canal called neural canal or spinal canal.

• Through the spinal canal the spinal cord passes backward.

• Neural arch has a median neural spine or spinous process, a pair of transverse process and two pairs of articular process known as anterior and posterior zygapophyses.

• Anterior or pre - zygapophyses are for articulation with the vertebra infront and posterior or post – zygapophyses are for articulation with the vertebra behind.

• Zygapophyses prevent the vertebra from displacement.