− | Thoracic vertebrae articulate with the ribs. They are distinguished by short bodies with flattened extremities, costal facets, short transverse processes and prominent spinous processes. They reach a maximum height, a few vertebrae behind the cervicothoracic junction (constituting the '''withers''' of the horse) and then decline. The orientation of spinous processes shifts from caudo- to craniodorsal. | + | Canines and most mammals have thirteen thoracic vertebrae. Thoracic vertebrae articulate with one another and with the ribs using both cartilaginous and synovial joints (see section above). Thoracic vertebrae are generally very similar throughout the length with only small differences occurring gradually between those vertebrae both cranially and caudally. have short vertebral bodies with flattened extremities, costal facets, short transverse processes and prominent spinous processes. They reach a maximum height, a few vertebrae behind the cervicothoracic junction (constituting the '''withers''' of the horse) and then decline. The orientation of spinous processes shifts from caudo- to craniodorsal. |