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. Animal and vegetable physiology considered with reference to natural theology. Natural theology; Physiology; Plant physiology; Biology. SERPENTS. 401. the spine of the Coluber natrix. These vertebrae are all united by ball and socket joints, as in the adult batrachia; the pos- terior rounded eminence of each vertebra being re- ceived into the anterior surface of the next. Fig. 202 is a view of this por- tion of the skeleton in the Soa cojistrictor, showing also the articulation of the ribs with the vertebrae. While provision has thus been made for extent of motion, extraordinary care has at
. Animal and vegetable physiology considered with reference to natural theology. Natural theology; Physiology; Plant physiology; Biology. SERPENTS. 401. the spine of the Coluber natrix. These vertebrae are all united by ball and socket joints, as in the adult batrachia; the pos- terior rounded eminence of each vertebra being re- ceived into the anterior surface of the next. Fig. 202 is a view of this por- tion of the skeleton in the Soa cojistrictor, showing also the articulation of the ribs with the vertebrae. While provision has thus been made for extent of motion, extraordinary care has at the same time been bestowed upon the security of the joints. Thus we find them ef- fectually protected from dislocation, by the locking in, above and below, of the articular processes, and by the close investment of the capsular ligaments. The direction of the surfaces of these processes, and the shape and length of the spinous processes, are such as to allow of free lateral flexion, but to limit the vertical and longitudinal motions ; and whatever degree of freedom of motion may exist between the adjoining vertebrae, that motion being multiplied along the column, the flexibility of the whole becomes very great, and admits of its assuming every degree and variety of curvature. The presence of a sternum, restraining the motions of the ribs, would have impeded all these move- ments, and would have also been an insurmountable bar to the dilatation of the stomach, which is ren- VOL. I. D D. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Roget, Peter Mark, 1779-1869. London : W. Pickering
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Keywords: ., bookcentury18, booksubjectnaturaltheology, booksubjectphysiology