catapophysis

from The Century Dictionary.

• noun In anatomy, any process, usually of bone or of brain tissue. Also called hypapophysis.
• noun One of a pair of processes developed on the sides of the ventral face of the cervical vertebræ in birds. They vary in size from a slight projection near the base of a transverse process to a long incurved process that almost or quite meets its fellow of the opposite side to form the catapophysial canal. On the posterior cervicals the catapophyses may be moved downward on to the hypapophysis.