This gallery features representative cervical (neck), thoracic (back) and sacral vertebrae from a four year old gelding. Refer back to the "Skeletal Development" page for explanations of the ossification process.
The degree of fusion of the physis is further along in the axial skeleton of the 4-year-old. The physeal line of the cranial physis is less distinguishable. Some, but NOT ALL of the caudal physes have begun to fuse with the vertebral body. While others remain easily detachable.
