An introduction to the study of mammals living and extinctLydekker, Richard
Science
An introduction to the study of mammals living and extinct
Lydekker, Richard
Mammals
In addition to the bones already mentioned as entering into the formation
of the cranium, there are many others, the most important of which may
be briefly noticed. The anterior extremity of the skull is formed by the
premaxillæ (Figs. 6, 7, _PMx_), which carry the incisors; behind them
are the maxillæ, in which all the remaining upper teeth are implanted.
Both the premaxillæ and maxillæ meet in a median suture on the palate,
where they form a floor to the nasal passage; this floor being continued
backwards by the plate-like palatines, at the hinder extremity of which
the posterior nares are usually situated. In a few instances, however,
as in certain Edentates and Cetaceans, the small pair of bones forming
the posterior continuation of the lateral borders of the palatines, and
known as the pterygoids (Fig. 6, _Pt_), likewise meet in the middle line
below the nasal passage, and thus cause the aperture of the posterior
nares to be situated near the occiput. On the upper, or frontal aspect of
the cranium the paired nasals roof over the nasal passage and fill the
interval left between the premaxilla and maxilla of either side. Behind
the nasals and maxillæ, the anterior part of the brain-case is formed
by the large paired frontals (Figs. 6, 7, _Fr_), behind which are the
parietals, which may be of still larger size, and form the greater part
of the brain-case. A median interparietal ossification (Fig. 6, _IP_)
may divide the parietals posteriorly, and is itself articulated with the
supraoccipital, to the lateral borders of which the parietals are also
joined. The squamosal (Fig. 7, _Sq_) forms the lateral wall of the hinder
part of the brain-case, and articulates superiorly with the parietal,
and posteriorly with the exoccipital. The glenoid cavity (Fig. 8), for
the reception of the articular condyle of the mandible, is formed by the
inferior portion of the squamosal, at the point where it gives off the
zygomatic process to form the hinder portion of the zygomatic arch. The
middle portion of that arch is formed by the jugal, or malar bone (Fig.
7, _Ma_), which articulates posteriorly with the zygomatic process of
the squamosal, and anteriorly with the maxilla. The jugal (as in Fig. 7)
may also articulate with a small bone situated on the anterior border
of the orbit known as the lachrymal. It is important to observe that
the zygomatic or temporal arch is a squamoso-maxillary one, and that an
arcade thus composed is found elsewhere only among the extinct Anomodont
reptiles, which have already been mentioned as showing signs of mammalian
affinity. The relative position occupied by the orbito- and alisphenoid
is sufficiently indicated in Fig. 7.
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