366 



MAMMALIAN ANATOMY 



VARIATIONS IN FORM AND DEVELOPMENT. 



On the outer surface the masseteric area below the curved line may 

 be much greater than the area above the line. 



On the inner aspect the orbital surface in some specimens extends 

 almost to the lower border, in others it may be relatively very narrow. 



Not infrequently the postorbital process is so flattened that the 

 inner surface exhibits no orbital crest. Its tip varies ; it may be 

 acutely pointed or broad and rough. 



The malar canal may be absent, or merely groove the posterior 

 postorbital border ; it may be double. Its inner opening is found on 

 or near the orbital crest. 



The zygomatic process varies in length ; in some specimens its 

 end is hooked and spatulate. 



HUMAN MALAR BONES. 



In the human skull the distance from the end of the zygomatic 

 process of the temporal to the maxillary bone is so short that the 

 intervening malar bone has assumed an almost square outline (Fig. 



285). 



