170 



THE CAT. 



[ciiAr. VI. 



§ 8. The cat's :\ioutii is boimdod cxterually Ly the lij^s, wliicli 

 form a single fold around tlic lower jaw, and two folds, separated 

 by a median notch, around the upper jaw. Inside the lips, folds of 

 membrane called frccna, proceed inwards, and bind them to the 

 gums, which are masses of dense fibrous tissue investing the alveolar 

 margins of the jaw-bones and covered by mucous membrane of a 



smooth and highly vascular 

 character. Laterall)^ the 

 mouth is bounded by the 

 cheeks; it is bounded below 

 by the tongue and the soft 

 parts whicli connect the 

 tongue with the mandible. 

 Above, it is bounded by 

 the palate withivi the upper 

 alveolar margin. The lips 

 and cheeks arc composed 

 of muscles and skin (as 

 already described), together 

 Avith blood-vessels, nerves, 

 and fat. The mucous 

 lining of the mouth abounds 

 in small glands, of which 

 those inside the lips are 

 called "labial" and those 

 inside the cheeks "buccal." 

 On the palate, the mucous 

 membrane, where it invests 

 the bones, is raised into 

 about eight (Fig. 8G) curved, 

 transverse, permanent ridges or ruricc. Beyond tlie bones, the palate 

 is continued for a long distance as "the ■'^oft palate" (investing tlie 

 muscles ah'cady noted), and Avhich hangs down from the hinder edge 

 of the palatine bones like a curtain, and is therefore called the 

 rclain paUif't. The palate abounds in small " palatine glands." 

 The middle part of the free edge of the velum pr(\sents a slightly 

 marked notch. Two folds of membrane descend, diverging as tliey 

 descend, from either end of the velum (sec Eig. 87, 7;, and in 

 front of 0- These folds form what is called the anterior and 

 posterior " ijillars of the fauces," or the i^fl/inasfauciani. The term 

 " fauces " is used to denote that posterior aperture of the nu)uth 

 which is bounded laterally by these pillars, above by the velum, and 

 below by a structure rising up behind the tongue, and hereafter 

 to be described as the "epiglottis." _ 



IJotween the anterior and posterior pillar of the fauces on each 

 side is a large hori/ontally-placed crescentic de[)ression (with numer- 

 ous o])enings of follicles* scattered over its lloor), called a /o>/-s// 

 (Fig. 87, ij. The use of the tonsils is miknown. 



* A "follicle" is ii iiiiiiute sinii'lc bag-sliapeil gland. 



Hi '' 



Viii. SO.— Palati:. 



(ip. Anterior pulatiiie foramen. 



In tliis view the siiiall \\]>]k'v molar is wpll seen, as 

 also the! iiiuor tubercle; of the scctovial tooth. 



