Abstract
The literature on the early embryonic development of the vertebral column in various animal species was analyzed to evaluate so many unrelated or contradictory observations. The recurring problems are described. One of the first was the lack of correspondence between the metameric boundaries of the ‘primitive vertebral bodies’ arising from the somites and those of the adult vertebral bodies, as presumably shown by their relationship to the vertebral processes and spinal nerves. A century ago, Remak introduced the concept of ‘Neugliederung’, according to which the ultimate vertebral body boundaries are determined by a shift of a half segment in comparison with the earlier segment boundaries.

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