The Evolution of the Vertebral Column

Editor's preface; List of illustrations; Part I. General Morphology: 1. The axial skeleton; 2. Segmentation and resegmentation; 3. The composition of the standard vertebra; 4. The five ontogenetic and phylogenetic stages of the vertebral column; 5. Piiper's theory; 6. Chordacentra and arcocentra; 7. Further developments of the fundamental scheme; 8. The vertebral processes in the tetrapoda; 9. Articulation of the vertebrae; 10. Evolution of an occipital join; 11. The homologies of the atlas and second vertebra of the amphibia; 12. The nerve supply of the musculature of the tongue apparatus; 13. The first three vertebrae; 14. Ribs; Part II. Systemic Morphology: 15. A classification of tetrapoda; 16. Pseudocentrous type; 17. Autocentrous type; 18. Notocentrous type; 19. The relationship of amphibia and reptilia; 20. The most primitive reptiles; 21. Cotylosauri; 22. Chelonia; 23. Pelycosauri; 24. The therapsida or theriodontia; 25. Procolophonidae; 26. Mammalia; 27. The sacro-caudal region of the mammalia; 28. Primitive sauromorpha of uncertain affinities; 29. Geckonidae; 30. Lacertae; 31. The pythonomorpha and ophidia; 32. 'Squamata'; 33. The crocodilia and their permian and triassic forerunners; 34. Dinosauria and pterosauria; 35. Aves; 36. Ichthyosauria and sauropterygia; Bibliography; Index.