379 



fetus; length 32 mm.; Fig. 12 that of a human fetus 40 mm. long. 

 The psculiarity I wish to lay stress on, regards the insertion of the 



Fig. 11. Fig. 12. 



raembranons vanlt of the crane on the cart.ilagenous nasal capsule. 

 In the dog the former attaches itself to the acute border where the 

 cranial base bends round in the nasal capsule, i.e. to the anterior 

 margin of the cranial base. In man, on the other hand, it attaches 

 itself in consequence of the intense development of the Hemispheres, 

 to the anterior surface of the nasal capsule. It is obvious that a 

 comparatively large portion of the nasal septum is hereby enclosed 

 in the cranial cavity. This fact elucidates several phenomena observable 

 at the human skull, I will only name them parenthetically. The 

 shifting of the insertion of the membranous cranium to the anterior 

 surface of the cartilagenous nasal capsule accounts for the occurrence 

 of the Crista galli. This process, which is lacking in prognathous 

 skulls is merely the top part of the nasal septum and the apex of 

 the Crista galli indicates consequently the original frontal boundary 

 of the base of the skull. This transference of the insertion of the 

 membranous vault causes a shortening of the frontal part of the 

 nasal region in man and it is quite obvious that the human physi- 

 ognomy has been largely influenced b}^ it. Earlier comparative 

 anatomical inquiries already led me to conclude that the top part 

 of the nose in Primates was reduced, and that the present boundary 

 between nose and vault of the skull is of a secondary nature '). The 



1) Die Heikunft der Fontanella metopica beim Menschen. Anat. Anz. Erganzungs- 

 heft. Bnd 38. Jena 1911. 



