Ventral tubercle

The ventral tubercle is a bony projection located on the ventral surface of the transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae. Together with the dorsal tubercle, it forms the transverse foramen, an opening present in cervical vertebrae C1 to C6 that allows the passage of blood vessels and nerves. This structure serves as an anchoring point for deep neck muscles, notably the longus colli muscle, and thus contributes to flexion and stabilization of the cervical spine.

In the horse, the sixth cervical vertebra (C6) is atypical and possesses a particularly well-developed structure called the ventral process. This process is itself divided into two parts: a cranial ventral tubercle and a caudal ventral tubercle (CVT).