60 REGION OF THE FACE. 



spinous process of the sphenoid bone and the petrous portion of the 

 temporal, the foramen lacerum anterius basis cranii, which lodges the 

 internal carotid artery and Eustachian tube, and in which the carotid 

 branch of the Vidian nerve joins the carotid plexus. Following the 

 direction of this fissure outwards is the foramen for the Eustachian tube, 

 and that for the tensor tympani muscle, separated from each other by 

 the processus cochleariformis. Behind the fissure is the pointed pro- 

 cess of the petrous bone which gives origin to the levator palati muscle, 

 and, externally to this process, the carotid foramen for the transmission 

 of the internal carotid artery and the ascending branch of the superior 

 cervical ganglion of the sympathetic ; and behind the carotid foramen, 

 the foramen lacerum posterius and jugular fossa. Externally, and 

 somewhat in front of the latter, is the styloid process, and at its base 

 the vaginal process. Behind and at the root of the styloid process is 

 the stylo-mastoid foramen, for the facial nerve and stylo-mastoid 

 artery, and further outwards the mastoid process. Upon the inner 

 side of the root of the mastoid process is the digastric fossa ; and a 

 little farther internally, the occipital groove. On either side of the 

 foramen magnum, and near its anterior circumference, are the con- 

 dyles of the occipital bone. In front of each condyle, and piercing its 

 base, is the anterior condyloid foramen for the hypoglossal nerve, and 

 directly behind the condyle the irregular fossa in which the posterior 

 condyloid foramen is situated. Behind the foramen magnum are the 

 two curved lines of the occipital bone, the spine, and protuberance, 

 with the rough surfaces for the attachment of muscles. 



The FACE is somewhat oval in contour, uneven in surface, and 

 excavated for the reception of two principal organs of sense, the eye 

 and the nose. It is formed by part of the frontal bone and by the 

 bones of the face. Superiorly it is bounded by the frontal eminences ; 

 beneath these are the superciliary ridges, converging towards the nasal 

 tuberosity ; beneath the superciliary ridges are the supra-orbital ridges, 

 terminating externally in the external border of the orbit, and inter- 

 nally in the internal border, and presenting towards their inner third 

 the supra-orbital notch, for the supra-orbital nerve and artery. Be- 

 neath the supra-orbital ridges are the openings of the orbits. Between 

 the orbits is the bridge of the nose, overarching the anterior nares ; and 

 on each side of this opening the canine fossa of the superior maxillary 

 bone, the infra-orbital foramen, and still farther outwards the pro- 

 minence of the malar bone ; at the lower margin of the anterior nares 

 is the nasal spine, and beneath this the superior alveolar arch contain- 

 ing the teeth of the upper jaw. Forming the lower boundary of the 

 face is the lower jaw, containing in its alveolar process the lower 

 teeth, and projecting inferiorly to form the chin ; on either side of the 

 chin is the mental foramen. If a perpendicular line be drawn from 

 the inner third of the supra-orbital ridge to the inner third of the 

 body of the lower jaw, it will be found to intersect three openings ; 

 the supra-orbital,, infra-orbital, and mental, each giving passage to a 

 facial branch of the fifth nerve. 



