Re: Another anatomy question

["Ray Stanford" <dinotracker@earthlink.net>]

    Jaime A. Headden said, "For clarification's sake to something Ray
Stanford wrote, the neural arch is every part of the vertebra that is not
the centra, and includes the neural pedicels and all apophyses (neurapophyis
[neural spine], diapophyses, parapophyses, and zygapophyses, and in birds,
the hypoapophysis)."

    I was using the definition of neural arch given in Jeff Poling's on-line
Anatomical Dictionary, which gave this definition: "...the opening in a
vertebra through which the spinal cord passes".

    Just below that, Jeff defines neural spine as, "...the large 'spike' of
bone that rises above the top of a vertebra to which the muscles and
tendons...attach".

    So, who is right, and why?  Please explain.

    To me, Jeff's definition of neural arch seems a lot more precise (and
reflective of the term "arch") and term-appropriate.  That it, why call a
group of bony extensions an arch???

    Thanks for anyone's help in further clarification.

    Ray Stanford

"You know my method.  It is founded upon the observance of trifles." --
Sherlock Holmes in The Boscombe Valley Mystery