part of part of neural spine http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Processusspinosusvertebrae.png AAO:0000705 TAO:0001336 spinous process SCTID:264259004 MA:0001455 processus spinosus vertebrae EMAPA:25107 UBERON:0001076 neural spine spine of verterba An extension of a neural arches dorsal to the neural canal[TAO,modified]. FMA:11948 NCIT:C116112 neural spines processus spinosus ZFA:0001336 vertebra spinous process relationship loss: part_of mid-dorsal keel (AAO:0000735)[AAO] The spinous process of a vertebra is directed backward and downward from the junction of the laminae (in humans), and serves for the attachment of muscles and ligaments. In animals without an erect stance, the process points upward and may slant forward or backward. Spinous processes are exaggerated in some animals, such as the extinct Dimetrodon and Spinosaurus, where they form a sail- or finback. [Wikipedia:Spinous_process] Small, posteriorly directed process at the posterior margin of each neural arch lamina; it is not a neural spine.[AAO] Elaboration of the mid-dorsal keel into a posterior or posterolateral process.[AAO] Neural spines are extensions of neural arches dorsal to the neural canal in the median skeletogenous septum. Neural spines are typically unpaired median structures but can be paired in some instances, e.g., in the abdominal region of basal teleosts such as Leptolepis, Elops, Megalops, and Hiodon).[TAO] Wikipedia:Spinous_process spinous process of vertebra neural arch process of vertebra