THE SKULL 



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prootic, and opisthotic 

 (cartilage-) bones lies 

 deep beneath the sur- 

 face of the skull, with 

 the result that between 

 it and the overlying 

 membrane-bones of the 

 skull-roof there is a 

 space. This space is 

 the temporal cavity ; 

 it is continuous in front 

 with the orbit or eye- 

 ball-space, and pos- 

 teriorly the temporal 

 cavity opens on the 

 hind face of the skull 

 by the post-temporal 

 fossa. It must be 

 remembered that the 

 word " cavity " is here 

 used to denote a space 

 which is not occupied 

 by bone ; it is, how- 

 ever, not hollow, but "* 

 filled by the muscles of 

 mastication which b 



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actuate the lower jaw. 

 Below, the temporal 

 cavity opens on to the 

 palatine surface of the 

 skull, in front of the 

 auditory capsule, and 

 through this opening 

 the above-mentioned 

 muscles pass. The 

 roof of the temporal 

 region typically has 

 three borders : an 



