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In
anatomyAnatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
, a
process (apophysis) is a projection or outgrowth of
tissueTissue is a cellular organizational level intermediate between cells and a complete organism. A tissue is an ensemble of cells, not necessarily identical, but from the same origin, that together carry out a specific function. These are called tissues because of their identical functioning...
from a larger body. The vertebra has several kinds of processes,such as: transverse process, prezygapophysis, postzygapophysis.
Examples
Examples of processes include:
- the mastoid process
The mastoid process is a conical prominence projecting from the undersurface of the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. It is located just behind the external acoustic meatus, and lateral to the styloid process...
- the xiphoid process
The xiphoid process, or xiphisternum or metasternum, is a small cartilaginous process of the lower part of the sternum which is usually ossified in the adult human. By age 15 to 29, the xiphoid usually fuses to the body of the sternum with a fibrous joint. Unlike the synovial articulation of major...
- the acromion process
The acromion process, or simply the acromion , is an anatomical feature on the shoulder blade , together with the coracoid process extending laterally over the shoulder joint.-In humans:...
- the spinous process
The spinous process of a vertebra is directed backward and downward from the junction of the laminae , 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...
extends from rearward from the centre of each vertebra.
- coracoid process
- vertebral transverse processes