Fig. 16.—Sternum, Ventral View.
a, manubrium; b, the separate pieces forming the body; c, bony part of the xiphoid process (the expanded cartilaginous portion not being shown); d, facet for attachment of first rib.
The tubercles become less prominent as we pass caudad and are absent on the last two or three ribs, which do not articulate with the transverse process.
The first nine ribs (true ribs or costæ veræ) are attached separately to the sternum by their costal cartilages. The last four (false ribs or costæ spuriæ) are not attached separately to the sternum. The costal cartilages of the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth are united to one another at their sternal ends. They may be united also to the ninth costal cartilage or to the sternum by a common cartilage of insertion, or they may be quite free from the sternum. The thirteenth costal cartilages are free (floating ribs).
Ligaments of the Ribs.—The articular surfaces between the head of the rib and the centra, and between the tubercle and the transverse process of the vertebra, have each an articular capsule. There are also a number of small ligamentous bands from the tuberosity and the neck of the rib to the transverse process of the vertebra.
The sternum consists of three portions, a cranial piece or manubrium (a), a caudal piece or xiphoid process (c), and a middle portion or body (corpus), which is divided into a number of segments (b).
To the sternum are united the ventral ends of the first nine ribs. It thus forms the median ventral boundary of the thorax. Since the thorax decreases in dorsoventral measurement craniad, the long axis of the sternum is inclined from its caudal end dorsocraniad, and if continued would strike the vertebral column in the region of the first cervical vertebra.
The manubrium (a) makes up about one-fifth the whole length of the sternum and projects craniad of the first rib. It has the form of a dagger and presents a dorsal surface and two lateral surfaces, the latter uniting ventrad to form a sharp angle. In the middle of the lateral surface near the dorsal margin is an oval articular surface (d) borne on a triangular projection. It looks caudodorsad and is for the first costal cartilage.
The caudal end articulates with the body by a synchondrosis and presents a slightly marked oval facet on each side for the second costal cartilage.
The body consists of six cylindrical pieces (b) enlarged at their ends and movably united by synchondroses. They increase in breadth from the first, and decrease slightly in length and thickness. At the caudal end of each near its ventral border there is a pair of facets looking caudolaterad. They are for the costal cartilages.
The xiphoid process (c) is a broad thin plate of cartilage at its caudal end; bony and cylindrical at its cranial end. It is attached by its base to the last segment of the body by a considerable cartilaginous interval, while the opposite end is free and directed caudoventrad.
The cartilage of the ninth rib is attached to the lateral face of the cartilage between the xiphoid and the body, and just caudad of this the common cartilage of insertion of the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth costal cartilages is attached, if present.
The bones of the head consist of the skull proper together with a number of separate bones forming part of the visceral skeleton; these are the lower jaw, the hyoid, and the ear-bones.
The skull proper is considered as divided into cranial and facial portions. The former includes all the bones which take part in bounding the cranial cavity or cavity of the brain; the latter includes the bones which support the face.
The cranial portion of the skull includes all that part enclosing the large cavity which contains the brain. For convenience this portion may be considered as made up of three segments, each of which forms a ring surrounding a part of the cranial cavity. The first or caudal segment or ring consists of the occipital bone (with the interparietal) surrounding the foramen magnum. The second segment consists of the sphenoid ventrad, the parietals laterad and dorsad. Between the first and second segments are intercalated laterally the temporal bones containing the auditory organ. The third segment or ring consists of the presphenoid ventrad, of the frontals laterad and dorsad. The cranial opening of this ring is closed by the lamina cribrosa of the ethmoid.
The cranial portion of the skull therefore contains eleven separate bones: one occipital, one interparietal, two temporals, one sphenoid, two parietals, one presphenoid, two frontals, and one ethmoid.
The facial portion of the skull is much smaller than the cranial, and lies craniad of the latter; it encloses the nasal cavity. It contains the following thirteen bones: two palatines, one vomer, two maxillaries, two lachrymals, two premaxillaries, two nasals, two malar or zygomatic bones. The two halves of the mandible or lower jaw are frequently included in the facial portion of the skull, making in all fifteen separate bones in this part of the skull.
In the following the bones of the skull are first described separately, then an account is given of the skull as a whole.
(Figs. 17 and 18).—The occipital bone forms the most caudal portion of the cranium, entering into the formation of its caudal wall and of its base. It connects the cranium with the vertebral column and surrounds a large opening, the foramen magnum (d), by means of which the cranial cavity communicates with the vertebral canal.
Fig. 17.—Occipital Bone, Caudal or Outer Surface.
Fig. 18.—Occipital Bone, Inner Surface.
a, basilar portion; b, lateral portions; c, squamous portion; d, foramen magnum; e, occipital condyles; f, jugular processes; g, jugular notch; h, lambdoidal ridge; i, external occipital crest; j, external occipital protuberance.
In young kittens four portions may be distinguished in this bone. These are, a basal portion (the basioccipital bone), two lateral portions (the exoccipital bones), and a dorsal portion (the supraoccipital bone). These four bones remain separate through life in many lower vertebrates. In the adult cat they are completely united into a single bone, but it is convenient to describe this bone as made up of four parts: a basal portion (a) (pars basilare), corresponding to the basioccipital, two lateral portions (b) (partes laterales), corresponding to the exoccipitals, and a squamous portion (c) (squama occipitalis) corresponding to the supraoccipital.
The basilar portion (a) as seen from the dorsal or ventral surface is oblong and flattened. It is broadest at the junction of its middle and last thirds, and tapers toward both ends. It presents a cranial end and a caudal end, a dorsal, a ventral, and two lateral surfaces. Its caudal end, which helps to form the ventral boundary of the foramen magnum, is concave from side to side. The cranial end is transversely elongate, about five times as broad as high, pointed laterally and roughened for attachment to the caudal end of the body of the sphenoid, which has a corresponding form. The joint is a synchondrosis.
The dorsal surface is concave from side to side, forming a longitudinal groove in which rest the pons and medulla. The concavity is more pronounced caudad, where the bone is thinner at its middle.
The ventral surface is marked by three parallel longitudinal ridges. One of them is median and expands caudad into a smooth triangular elevated area which extends to the foramen magnum. The other two ridges run near the lateral edges of the bone. Between them and the median ridge the surface is smooth and is depressed caudad. Laterad of each lateral ridge is a rough triangular surface overlaid in the natural state by the medial edge of the tympanic bulla.
The lateral surfaces are smooth and sharp and abut against the petrous portion of the temporal bone. They pass into the lateral portions of the occipital caudad.
The lateral portions (b) of the occipital arise from the caudal margin of the basilar portion in the transverse plane; a short distance laterad of the line of junction they turn dorsad at an angle of nearly ninety degrees. They form the lateral boundaries of the foramen magnum and pass dorsally into the squamous portion.
The external surface of each presents an elongated elevated spirally curved surface, the occipital condyle (c), for articulation with the atlas. A small part of each condyle is formed from the basal portion. The two condyles are separated from one another ventrally by a narrow notch, and each extends (laterad) along the border of the foramen magnum to a point slightly dorsad of the transverse diameter of the latter.
Laterad of each condyle the bone is elevated into a blunt triangular projection, the jugular process (f), which covers the caudal end of the tympanic bulla. Between the jugular process and the condyle is a deep depression.
The internal surface (Fig. 18) is concave dorsoventrally, following the outline of the foramen magnum. It is convex from side to side. It is smooth except at its outer margin, which is rough for articulation with the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. The cranial face of the jugular process (f) shows a rough concavity for the reception of the bulla tympani. Mediad of the jugular process is a notch (jugular notch) (g) which when the bones are articulated forms part of the boundary of the jugular foramen. Mediad of this notch is a foramen which forms one end of the hypoglossal canal. It passes dorsocaudad into the cranial cavity and transmits the hypoglossal nerve. Dorsad of the hypoglossal canal is the cranial opening of the condyloid canal, which passes caudad and opens just craniad of the dorsal end of the condyle. It transmits a vein. The outer border of this portion is rough for articulation with the petrous and mastoid portions of the temporal.
The squamous portion (c) has the form of a sector of a circle whose arc is a little more than ninety degrees. The central angle of the sector is truncated and bounds the foramen magnum dorsally. The arc of the sector forms the dorsal margin of the bone, while along the radii it passes into the lateral portions. Its dorsal portion is thick and porous; its ventral portion near the foramen magnum is thin and compact.
The external surface (Fig. 17) is marked by a prominent ridge, the lambdoidal ridge (h), parallel with the dorsal border and near to it. The narrow portion of the outer surface that lies dorsad of the ridge forms an angle of about ninety degrees with the remainder of the surface.
A median crest (i) extends ventrad from the middle of the lambdoidal ridge toward the foramen magnum; this is the external occipital crest. At its junction with the lambdoidal ridge it is elevated into a tubercle, the external occipital protuberance (j).
The inner surface (Fig. 18) presents depressions for the convolutions of the cerebellum.
The dorsal border is thick and rough for articulation with the parietals and interparietal. The ventral border abuts on the foramen magnum and is thin and smooth.
(Fig. 19).—This is a small triangular bone lying between the parietals, with its apex directed craniad, and its base in contact with the squamous portion of the occipital.
Its dorsal surface is arrow-shaped and has its posterior border notched. It is marked by a median crest (part of the sagittal crest) which is continued craniad from the middle of the lambdoidal crest.
The ventral surface is irregularly triangular, smooth, and concave. The three borders are rough for articulation with the parietals and occipital.
Fig. 19.—Interparietal Bone, Outer Surface.
Fig. 20.—Sphenoid Bone, Dorsal or Internal Surface.
Fig. 19, showing the sagittal crest running craniocaudad across its middle.
Fig. 20.—a, body; b, wings; c, pterygoid process; d, tuberculum sellæ; e, dorsum sellæ; f, sella turcica; g, notch which aids in forming the foramen lacerum; h, longitudinal groove of alisphenoid; i, notch which aids in forming the orbital fissure; j, foramen rotundum; k, foramen ovale.
(Fig. 20).—The sphenoid bone of man is represented in the cat by two entirely distinct bones,—one cranial, the other caudal. The cranial portion may be designated as the presphenoid (Fig. 21); the caudal part will be described as the sphenoid (proper) (Fig. 20).
The sphenoid bone in the kitten is in three parts: a central portion, the basisphenoid, and two lateral portions, the alisphenoids. In many lower vertebrates these three bones are permanently distinct, but in the adult cat they are united to form the sphenoid bone. To these there is added a fourth element, separate in many vertebrates as the pterygoid bone. The sphenoid may thus be described as composed of a central portion, the body (a) (basisphenoid), and of two thin expanded wings (b) (alisphenoids, alæ magnæ of the human sphenoid); each of which has arising from it a thin curved process, the pterygoid process (c), directed craniad and largely made up of the pterygoid bone.
The body of the sphenoid (a) lies in the middle line of the base of the skull. It is wedge-shaped, with the converging sides of the wedge directed laterad and its apex pointed craniad.
It has six surfaces, of which the dorsal and a part of the laterals look into the cranial cavity. The cranial end articulates with the body of the presphenoid, and the caudal with the body of the occipital.
The dorsal surface is triangular, with one apex of the triangle truncated, elevated, and directed craniad. This elevation is the tuberculum sellæ (d). Just caudad of the middle the surface presents a rectangular elevation with rounded angles, the dorsum sellæ (e). The cranial end of the dorsum sellæ presents at each dorsolateral angle a very small smooth tubercle which represents one of the posterior clinoid processes of man. Between this elevation and the elevated cranial end of this surface there is a deep excavation, the sella turcica (f), in which in the natural state is lodged the hypophysis. Near the cranial end of the sella is a small foramen, probably nutrient. At the caudal end of the body a slight notch (g) separates it from the wing: this notch forms a part of the foramen lacerum. Against this notch fits the apex of the petrous bone, and from it a groove (carotid groove) is continued mediocraniad to the sella turcica.
The ventral surface (Fig. 41, 3) is triangular, smooth, and nearly flat; it is marked by a median ridge which is the continuation craniad of the ridge on the ventral face of the basilar portion of the occipital.
Its caudal angles are separated from the rest of the bone by sharp triangular elevations, laterad of which are rough triangular areas, overlaid when the bones are articulated by a triangular spine from the tympanic bulla.
Its lateral surfaces are mostly covered by the wings. They appear at the sides of the elevated cranial end of the dorsal surface as triangular areas.
The caudal end is concave, rough, and has the form of the cranial end of the basilar part of the occipital.
The cranial end is nearly square and rough for articulation with the body of the presphenoid.
The Wing (alisphenoid; ala magna of the human sphenoid) (Fig. 20, b).—This is a thin quadrilateral plate of bone attached by its medial border to nearly the whole of the lateral surface of the body. Its middle portion lies nearly in the same plane as the body, but its ends are curved dorsad so that its internal surface is concave and its external surface is convex. The curvature is most pronounced near the long lateral border, so that this border forms nearly a semicircle.
The internal surface supports the occipital lobe of the cerebrum. It is marked by a rounded groove (h) which is parallel with the lateral surface of the body. The dorsal margin of the groove projects mediad in the form of a sharp ridge which is broadest caudad, where it often reaches nearly to the posterior clinoid process. The groove passes craniad into three foramina. The first (cranial) of these, the orbital fissure (i), is large and lies between the wing, the body, and the pterygoid process. It is incomplete, but is completed by the presphenoid. The second foramen is small and rounded; it is the foramen rotundum (j). The third, foramen ovale (k), is larger and oval and penetrates the wing through about the middle of its longitudinal axis. Another minute foramen penetrates the sphenoid between the wing and the body of the bone, just laterad of the tuberculum sellæ. This foramen is continuous craniad with a groove on the dorsal surface of the pterygoid process; the groove and foramen constitute the pterygoid canal. It transmits a nerve.
The external surface shows the orbital fissure, the foramen rotundum and the foramen ovale, bounded ventrally by a sharp ridge, which is continued onto the pterygoid process. Between this ridge and the body the surface is longitudinally grooved for the tuba auditiva or Eustachian tube.
The semicircular margin of the bone articulates with the squamous portion of the temporal. At the junction of its caudal and middle third there is sometimes a toothlike projection which underlies the root of the zygoma.
The whole of the cranial margin, except the lateral end, articulates with the wing of the presphenoid. At this end the angle formed by the junction of lateral and cranial borders is produced into a flat process, which passes dorsocaudad between the squamous portion of the temporal and the frontal, and articulates by the roughened internal surface of its free end with a similar process from the parietal.
The caudal margin laterad of the groove is bevelled and roughened at the expense of the dorsal surface and is overlaid by the ventral end of the tentorium. Mediad of the groove it projects caudad as a slender point, the lingula of the sphenoid. This is received into a narrow cleft between the apex of the petrous bone and the bulla tympani.
The pterygoid process (c) is a nearly square, thin plate of bone. The medial surface is smooth and concave, the lateral face is convex and marked by two parallel ridges. The medial one of these is continued craniad from the bony septum which separates the orbital fissure from the foramen rotundum, and the lateral one from the septum which separates the foramen rotundum from the foramen ovale. A sharp triangular spine projects laterad from near the caudal end of the lateral ridge.
The two ridges and that part of the lateral surface of the bone included between them form a part of the sphenoid bone known as the pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone, in those cases where the pterygoid is a separate bone.
The remainder of the process is equivalent to the pterygoid bone of other vertebrates.
Between the caudal margin of this bone and the lateral of the two ridges, i.e., between the pterygoid bone and the pterygoid process of the sphenoid, is a long deep fossa, the internal pterygoid fossa (Fig. 40, s). The laterocaudal margin of the pterygoid process projects caudad, as a curved triangular spine, the hamulus or hamular process (Fig. 40, t; Fig. 43, i).
(Fig. 21).—In a young cat this bone is in three pieces, a basal portion (presphenoid) and two wings (orbitosphenoid bones). These bones remain distinct throughout life in many lower vertebrates, but in the adult cat they fuse to form a single bone. We may nevertheless conveniently describe this bone as made up of a body (a) (the basisphenoid), and two wings (b), the orbitosphenoids (the alæ parvæ of the human sphenoid).
Fig. 21.—Presphenoid Bone, Ventral View.
a, body; b, wings; c, optic foramina.
The body (a) lies in the base of the skull in the median line, craniad of the basisphenoid. It has the form of a rectangular prism about twice as long as broad. It is hollow, and the cavity is divided by a median longitudinal partition into two cavities (sphenoidal sinuses, Fig. 43, l). The sphenoidal sinuses are continued craniad into the cavities of the ethmoid. The body has six surfaces:
The dorsal or internal surface (Fig. 42, n) looks into the cranial cavity and is continuous with the dorsal surface of the wings. The caudal end of the body is depressed, and when united to the basisphenoid aids in forming the cranial wall of the sella turcica. At each caudolateral angle is a short spine, the anterior clinoid process. At about one-third the length of the bone from the caudal end is a transverse groove (chiasmatic groove, Fig. 42, m) for the optic chiasma. Its ends lead into two round foramina (the optic foramina, Fig. 42, l; Fig. 21, c) which pass craniolaterad between the body and the wings of the presphenoid and transmit the optic nerve and the ophthalmic artery.
The ventral surface (Fig. 21) is hour-glass-shaped and marked by a smooth median ridge, continuous with the ridge on the basisphenoid and overlaid at its cranial end by the vomer. The caudal end presents a rough triangular area on each side, for articulation with the pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone, while the cranial end has similar areas overlaid by the nasal portion of the palatine bones.
The lateral surface looks towards the orbitotemporal fossa. It is notched near the caudal end by the ventral border of the optic foramen (c). Caudad of this foramen the surface presents an oblique groove which forms in the natural condition the medial boundary of the orbital fissure.
Craniad of the optic foramen the surface is smooth and marked near its ventral border by a longitudinal ridge which forms part of the dorsal boundary of a fossa, the external pterygoid fossa (Fig. 40, p).
The caudal end presents ventrally a quadrangular rough surface for articulation with the body of the sphenoid. The cranial end presents the two sphenoidal sinuses separated by a median partition.
The median partition articulates by its free border with the lamina perpendicularis of the ethmoid. At its ventral end is the abruptly truncate end of the median ridge of the ventral surface, which is continuous with the ventral cartilaginous portion of the lamina perpendicularis. The lateral walls of the sphenoidal sinuses are continued craniad of the dorsal and ventral walls and of the median partition, and articulate ventrally with the nasal portion of the palatine bones, and dorsally with the orbital plate of the frontal. Between them is received the caudal ends of the labyrinths of the ethmoid in the middle, while between their dorsal edges is received the caudal end of the cribriform plate, and between their ventral edges the expanded end of the vomer.
The wings (b) arise each from nearly the whole of the dorsolateral angle of the body. They form prominent nearly horizontal triangular projections over the optic foramina.
The dorsal and ventral surfaces are smooth and continuous respectively with the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the body. The dorsal surface looks into the cranial cavity, while the ventral looks into the orbitotemporal fossa.
Craniad of the apex of the wing its border articulates with the ventral edge of the orbital portion of the frontal bone. Caudad of the apex the border articulates with the cranial border of the wing of the sphenoid.
(Figs. 22 and 23).—This forms a part of the lateral wall of the cranium, filling the gap between the occipital and the sphenoidal segments. It is made up of three portions which are distinct in kittens but somewhat firmly united in adult cats. In lower vertebrates these portions are distinct bones called the Squamous, the Petrous, and the Tympanic bones. In the cat they may be described as the squamous (a), petrous (b), and tympanic (c) portions of the temporal bone.
a, squamous portion; b, petrous portion; c, c′, tympanic portion (c, entotympanic; c′, ectotympanic); d, zygomatic process; e, mastoid portion of the petrous; f, mandibular fossa; g, postmandibular process; h, tuberculum articulare; i, external auditory meatus; j, stylomastoid foramen; k, pit for tympanohyal bone; l, mastoid process; m, grooves bounding the jugular foramen; n, internal auditory meatus; o, appendicular fossa; p, hiatus facialis; q, styliform process of tympanic bulla.
The squamous portion (a) (squama temporalis) is thin and oval or has the form of an equilateral triangle with rounded angles, with a curved process, the zygomatic process (d), arising from its ventral border. Its outer surface (Fig. 22) is convex and smooth and gives origin to part of the temporal muscle. Its inner surface (Fig. 23) is concave and smooth except near the margins, where it is bevelled and rough. The roughened border is broader dorsad and caudad. The ventral margin of the bone is turned mediad at its cranial end so that the lateral face of the inverted portion looks ventrad. By this portion of its lateral face the squamous rests upon the tympanic bulla, and its edge articulates with the tentorium and the wing of the sphenoid. The remaining (caudal) portion of the ventral border overlies the mastoid portion (e) of the petrous. By the remainder of its border the bone articulates with the parietal dorsad and with the wing of the sphenoid craniad. The roughened portion of its inner surface overlies the margins of both these bones.
The zygomatic process (d) is formed by the confluence of two roots. One of these starts from the ventral end of the lambdoidal ridge and passes along the ventral margin of the squama dorsad of the external auditory meatus. The other arises abruptly from the cranioventral angle of the bone. The process thus formed is at first broad and passes horizontally laterad and slightly craniad. It soon grows more slender and turns gradually craniad, while at the same time it twists so that the surface which is dorsal at the base becomes medial at the tip; the posterior root which is continuous with the caudal border at the base is continuous with the dorsal border at the apex. On the ventral surface of the base is a transversely elongated concave articular surface, the mandibular fossa (f), for the condyloid process of the lower jaw. Caudad of this is a sharp transverse ridge, the postmandibular or postglenoid process (g), and craniad of the lateral end of the fossa a slight tubercle, the tuberculum articulare (h). Near its apex the zygomatic process is more slender and its ventral border is bevelled for articulation with the malar or zygomatic bone.
The tympanic (Figs. 22 and 23, c; Fig. 24) is expanded into a large hollow olive-shaped bone which is known as the auditory bulla and encloses the tympanic cavity. Its substance is very compact. Unlike the tympanic of most other mammals it is developed from two bones, known as the ectotympanic (Fig. 22, c′) and entotympanic (c). These are strongly marked in young kittens, and can usually be easily distinguished in adult cats. The entotympanic (Figs. 22 and 23, c) forms the larger part of the bulla, constituting its ventral and medial surfaces; it is thin, smooth, and transparent. The ectotympanic (Fig. 22, c′) surrounds the external auditory meatus: it is thicker and more opaque than the entotympanic. The bulla lies ventrad of the squamous, and in an external view conceals a large part of the petrous.
On its lateral surface it presents near the dorsal border an irregular oval opening, that of the external auditory meatus (Fig. 22, i), which leads into the tympanic cavity. Caudad of the external auditory meatus is a nearly dorsoventral groove, which, when the bone is articulated, forms a part of the boundary of the stylomastoid foramen (Fig. 22, j); just ventrad of this groove is a pit (k) which lodges the tip of the tympanohyal bone.
Craniad the bone is produced into a short spine, the styliform process (q), which lies in a horizontal groove in the ventral surface of the basisphenoid. Laterad of this spine is a groove for the tuba auditiva or Eustachian tube.
Fig. 24.—Tympanic Bulla, Isolated, Medial Surface.
a, inner end of auditory meatus; b, partition dividing tympanic cavity; c, styliform process.
The medial surface (Fig. 24) presents in the middle near its ventral margin a short triangular spine which lies in the natural state against the ventral surface of the basilar portion of the occipital.
Caudad of this spine the surface is marked by two or three vertical parallel grooves (Fig. 23, m). They indicate the portion of the bone which bounds the jugular foramen, and are possibly impressions of the ninth, tenth, and eleventh nerves.
The dorsal two-thirds of the medial surface is lacking in the disarticulated bulla (Fig. 24), so that the cavity of the bone is exposed. This opening is in the natural state closed by the petrous bone. The caudal end is rough where it is overlaid by the jugular process.
On the inner surface of the tympanic bulla is seen the thickened margin of the inner end of the auditory meatus (Fig. 24, a). To it is attached the membrana tympana. In the median dorsal line this margin is notched for the reception of the incus and head of the malleus. From the lateral wall of the cavity at the line of junction of the ectotympanic and entotympanic a thin bony partition (b) rises. It runs almost directly mediad; is concave dorsally and divides the tympanic cavity into two chambers.
The Petrous Portion (Fig. 23, b, and Fig. 25).—This consists of two parts, a very dense part (the petrous portion proper, Fig. 25), which has the form of a triangular pyramid and encloses the auditory labyrinth, and a less dense part, the mastoid portion (Figs. 22 and 23, e), which is flattened and triangular and is attached by its base to the base of the pyramid.
The petrous portion may be described as having a base and three sides, lateral, dorsal, and medial. It completes the medial wall of the tympanic bulla, so that it is not possible to see it from the exterior of a skull except through the auditory meatus (Fig. 22, i). When the bones of the skull are articulated its dorsal surface is covered by the tentorium and alisphenoid. Its lateral face looks into the tympanic cavity, while the medial face looks into the cranial cavity.
Fig. 25.—Petrous Bone of Right Side, Lateral Surface, Enlarged.
a, fenestra cochleæ; b, promontory; c, fenestra vestibuli; d, fossa for the tensor tympani muscle; e, fossa for incus and malleus; f, fossa continuous with stylomastoid foramen; g, foramen leading to facial canal.
Its lateral face (Fig. 25) (medial wall of the tympanic cavity) presents just ventrad of the middle of its base a large circular foramen, the fenestra cochleæ (a) (or fenestra rotunda), which looks caudolaterad; it leads into the cochlea. The fenestra cochleæ lies at the summit of a nipple-like elevation, the promontory (b), which is continued toward the apex of the bone as a gradually diminishing semicylindrical ridge, due to the presence within it of the bony cochlea. Dorsad of the fenestra cochleæ is the much smaller fenestra vestibuli (c) (or ovalis) which leads into the vestibule. It is occupied in the natural condition by the base of the stapes.
Dorsocraniad of the fenestra vestibuli is a large fossa (d) which contains the tensor tympani muscle. Dorsocaudad of this, partly bounded by the squamous portion of the temporal, is another large fossa (e), the cranial end of which is occupied by the incus, while its caudal end is occupied by the head of the malleus.
Nearly caudad of this fossa and separated from it by an oblique bony septum is a third fossa (f) which is narrow and curved. It is continuous with a notch in the mastoid portion of the bone. When the tympanic is articulated the notch is converted into a foramen (stylomastoid foramen, Fig. 22, j) for the exit of the seventh nerve. The fossa gives passage to the seventh nerve and also lodges the stapedius muscle. A groove may be traced from the stylomastoid foramen to the caudal border of the fossa for the tensor tympani muscle, where it passes into a canal (g). The groove and canal are parts of the canalis facialis or facial canal (aqueductus Fallopii) for the passage of the seventh nerve through the petrous bone.
The medial surface (Fig. 23, b) of the petrous portion shows near its middle a fossa, the internal auditory meatus (n). This is divided by a partition of bone into a dorsal and ventral part. The dorsal portion is the beginning of the facial canal (aqueductus Fallopii) by which the seventh nerve passes through the petrous bone to emerge at the stylomastoid foramen. The ventral portion shows at its bottom several small foramina for the auditory nerve.
Dorsocaudad of the internal auditory meatus is a deep fossa (o) for a small lobe, the so-called appendicular lobe, of the cerebellum. This may be called the appendicular fossa.
The dorsal surface is triangular and presents near its apex a foramen—the hiatus facialis (p), the opening of a canal which joins the canalis facialis and transmits the superficial petrosal branch of the nerve of the pterygoid canal (Vidian nerve). That part of the dorsal surface which lies caudad of the hiatus facialis is known as the tegmen tympani.
The base of the petrous is attached to the mastoid portion (Fig. 23, e).
(For an account of the structures within the petrous bone and the tympanic cavity, see the description of the internal and middle ear.)
The mastoid portion (Figs. 22 and 23, c) is attached by its base to the pyramidal petrous portion, with which it forms an angle of about 120 degrees. It appears in the lateral wall of the skull between the parietal bone and the occipital (Fig. 40, d). The lambdoidal ridge is continued on its outer surface to the caudal border of the external auditory meatus. Caudad of the stylomastoid foramen it forms a slight nipple-like eminence, the mastoid process (Fig. 22, l). Its inner face looks into the cranial cavity.
(Figs. 39, 40, and 43, 3).—The parietal bones form the larger part of the lateral and dorsal boundary of the cranial cavity. Each is a thin rectangular bone, compact and curved and with a deeply notched shelf of bone, the tentorium (Fig. 42, e, and Fig. 43, f), projecting inward from near the caudal margin.
The outer surface is smooth and convex. The highest part of the convexity, a little caudad of the middle of the bone, is known as the parietal tubercle or eminence (Fig. 39, d); it marks the point of beginning ossification. An obscure curved ridge (Fig. 39, e), running from the caudodorsal angle or a point craniad of it craniolaterad, indicates the boundary of the origin of the temporal muscle. Near the ventral border the surface is roughened and is covered in the natural state by a part of the squamous portion of the temporal bone.
The inner surface (Fig. 43, 3 and 3′) is smooth and marked by ridges and grooves for the convolutions of the cerebrum. Near the medial border is a ridge which, when the bone is articulated with that of the opposite side, forms a shallow groove for the superior sagittal sinus. Beginning near the middle of the ventral margin and passing dorsad is a groove for the middle meningeal artery. The tentorium (Fig. 43, f) arises from the inner surface near its caudal margin and projects mediad as a thin curved or notched shelf of bone which separates the cerebellar fossa (Fig. 43, I) of the cranium from the cerebral fossa (Fig. 43, II). When the parietals are articulated there is left between the tentoria a large foramen by means of which the two fossæ communicate. The foramen is bounded laterally and dorsally by the free margins of the tentoria, while the ventral end of each tentorium articulates with the alisphenoid, and its dorsal end with the opposite tentorium.
The medial border is straight and is united by suture to the opposite bone.
The cranial border is bevelled at the expense of the inner surface and articulates with the frontal. Just ventrad of the middle of the border projects a sharp spine which fits into a corresponding notch in the caudal border of the frontal.
The ventral border is concave, sharp, and bevelled at the expense of the outer surface, for articulation with the squamous portion of the temporal, except near the cranial end, where it articulates with the wing of the sphenoid.
The caudal border is thick and porous medially, but thin laterally, and bevelled at the expense of the inner surface for articulation with the interparietal and mastoid portion of the temporal.
(Figs. 39, 40, and 41, 5; Fig. 43, 8; Fig. 26).—The frontal bones meet one another in the median dorsal line so as to form the roof of the skull between the parietal and nasal bones. A part extends also ventrad, forming a large part of the medial wall of the orbit and a part of the temporal fossa.
The bone may be divided into two portions, a plate forming the cranial portion of the roof of the skull and a part of the roof of the nasal cavity, the frontal plate (Fig. 40, 5), and a part descending into the orbit, the orbital plate (Fig. 40, 5′).
The frontal plate (Fig. 40, 5) is a right-angled triangle with the hypothenuse lateral. Its dorsal surface is convex and smooth. The cranial two-thirds of its lateral border is separated from the orbital fossa by a ridge, the supraorbital arch or margin (Fig. 39, i; Fig. 40, o); the caudal third passes gradually into the temporal fossa. At its cranial angle is a triangular projection, the frontal spine or nasal spine (Fig. 26, a), which fits into a space between the nasal and maxillary bones.