no 



THE CAT. 



8. The cat's MOUTH is bounded externally by the lips, which 

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

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

 membrane called frtvim, 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. Laterally, the 

 mouth is bounded by the 

 cheeks ; it is bounded below 

 by the tongue and the soft 

 parts which connect the 

 tongue with the mandible. 

 Above, it is bounded by 

 the palate within the upper 

 alveolar margin. The lips 

 and cheeks are composed 

 of muscles and skin (as 

 already described), together 

 with 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. 86) curved, 



transverse, permanent ridges or ruycp. Beyond the bones, the palate 

 is continued for a long distance as "the soft palate " (investing the 

 muscles already noted), and which hangs down from the hinder edge 

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

 velum palati. The palate abounds in small "palatine glands." 

 The middle part of the free edge of the velum presents a slightly 

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

 descend, from either end of the velum (see Fig. 87, p, and in 

 front of t). These folds form what is called the anterior and 

 posterior "pillars of the fauces," or the isthmus fa uc aim. The term 

 " fauces " is used to denote that posterior aperture of the mouth 

 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." 



Between the anterior and posterior pillar of the fauces on each 

 side is a large horizontally-placed crescentic depression (with numer- 

 ous openings of follicles* scattered over its floor), called a 

 (Fig. 87, t). The use of the tonsils is unknown. 



* A "follicle " is a minute simple bag-shaped gland. 



Fig. 86. PALATE. 

 p. Anterior palatine foramen. 



In this view the small upper molar is well seen, as 

 also the inner tubercle of the sectorial tooth. 



