CHAPTER IX. 



THE SKULL. 



The skull is the term commonly applied to the expanded an- 

 terior portion of the axial skeleton situated within the head. 



.It consists mainly of the cra7iium, a strong bony case or 

 frame, enclosing the brain, and affording support and pro- 

 tection to the organs of smell, sight, hearing, and taste, 

 and formed by the close union, either by sutures or by 

 synostosis, of numerous bones. 



To the inferior surface of the cranium are suspended 

 (i) the Mandible, or lower jatv, movably articulated by a 

 synovial joint; and (2) a group of skeletal structures called 

 the hyoidam apparatus. 



The diagram at p. 106 is intended to show, at a single 

 view, the names applied to the various bones. of which the 

 skull is composed, and to give some idea of their relative 

 position. 



It will be well to commence the study of the skull by 

 describing that of a Dog, as a good average specimen of the 

 class, and one which is easily procurable at various ages ; 

 and I would strongly advise the student to follow the 

 description with a skull in his hand, or two would be better, 

 in one of which a longitudinal median section has been 

 made. In the other, the various bones should be separated 



