Anatomy, Artistic; Animals in art; Zoological illustration
It is true that, in the position we have adopted, the face is directed
obliquely downwards and forwards, and that there may result a certain
confusion in describing the position of its different parts. On
this account, with the object of not making complications, we
purpose, for the present, to substitute, for example, for the term
'antero-superior'--which when speaking of the position of the forehead
and nose would be more exact--the term 'anterior,' which is sufficiently
comprehensible. The mouth will be, for the same reason, referred to as
being situated at the inferior part of the face, and not the
antero-inferior.
=The Skull.=--The elevation of the cranial region becomes especially
appreciable when we examine the occipital bone. Before verifying this
fact, it is not superfluous to recall the general arrangement which this
bone presents in the human skull. A portion of the occipital bone
occupies the base of the skull; but this base in man is horizontal; to
this region succeeds the shell-shaped portion of the occipital bone,
which, passing vertically upwards, forms with the preceding portion an
angle situated at the level of the external occipital protuberance, and
of the curved line which starts from it on each side. In animals a
portion of the occipital bone is horizontal, it is true; but this bone
being sharply bent at the level of the occipital foramen and condyles,
the result is that the portion which surmounts these latter looks
backwards, and is limited above by the external occipital protuberance,
which forms the culminating point of the skull; this point is situated
between the ears.
[Illustration: FIG. 58.--SKULL OF ONE OF THE FELIDÆ (JAGUAR): LEFT
LATERAL ASPECT.
1, Posterior surface of the occipital bone; 2, external occipital
protuberance; 3, condyle of the occipital bone; 4, jugular process; 5,
parietal bone; 6, frontal bone; 7, orbital process; 8, orbital cavity;
9, squamous portion of the temporal bone; 10, external auditory canal,
in front of which is situated the zygomatic process; 11, tympanic bulla;
12, superior maxillary bone; 13, intermaxillary or incisor bone; 14,
nasal bone; 15, anterior orifice of the nasal cavity; 16, malar bone;
17, ungual or lachrymal bone; 18, inferior maxillary bone; 19, condyle
of the inferior maxillary bone; 20, coronoid process; 21, incisor teeth;
22, canine teeth; 23, molar teeth.]
[Illustration: FIG. 59.--SKULL OF THE LION: LEFT LATERAL ASPECT.
This figure is intended to show that in the lion the contour of the face
between the nasal bones and the cranial region is more flattened than in
other felidæ, such as the tiger, jaguar, panther, and domestic cat. This
difference is shown by comparison of this figure with the preceding one
(Fig. 58). We are indebted to M. Tramond, the well-known naturalist, for
the indication of this differential character which, from the artistic
plastic point of view, is one of real interest.]
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