THE FACE 383 



Nomenclature. Voiner is the Latin for ploughshare, which to a 

 certain degree this bone resembles in shape. The vomer for a long 

 time was not recognized as a distinct bone, having been classed as part 

 of some one of the neighboring bones, until Fallopius and Columbus 

 announced its independent character. Columbus gave it the present 

 name. The term os vomeris is also employed, which the Germans 

 translate into das Pflugscharbein. The French name is le vomer. 



Articulation. The vomer articulates with the premaxillaries, the 

 maxillaries, the palatines, the presphenoid, and the ethmoid. 



Ossification. The vomer is developed from two centres of ossifi- 

 cation. 



HUMAN VOMER. 



The vertical height of the nasal chambers of man is so much 

 greater than the height of the nasal chambers of the cat, that the 

 vomer, which in each case forms the lower part of the dividing nasal 

 septum, is higher in the human skull than in the skull of the cat. 

 It is also narrower, even in its more expanded posterior part. That 



FIG. 303. 



VERTICAL SECTION OF THE FACE, EXHIBITING THE OSSEOUS NASAL SEPTUM. 



1, frontal bone ; 2, frontal sinus ; 3, nasal spine of the frontal bone ; 4, nasal bone ; 5, nasal spine of the maxil- 

 lary ; 6, nasal process of the same bone ; 7, border of the palatine plate of the same ; 8, incisive foramen ; 9, left 

 posterior naris; 10, palatine plate of the palatine bone; 11, nasal plate of the ethmoid bone; 12, ethmoidal crest : 

 13, vomer; 14, left maxillo-turbinal bone; 15, sphenoidal sinus; 16, internal pterygoid plate ; 17, external pterygoid 

 plate. 



portion of the lower border which is not attached to the maxillary- 

 palatine crest slopes obliquely upward and backward and becomes a 

 true rounded posterior border, separating the posterior nasal openings 

 (Fig. 303). 



