170 



OSTEOLOGY 





Ossification. The inferior nasal concha is ossified from a single center, which appears about 

 the fifth month of fetal life in the lateral wall of the cartilaginous nasal capsule. 



Articulations. The inferior nasal concha articulates with four bones: the ethmoid, maxilla, 

 lacrimal, and palatine. 



. Uncinate 



process 

 oj ethmoid 



Frontal sinus 



.Crista galli 



Bella turcica 



Openings into 

 maxillary sinus 

 Medial pterygoid plate 

 Pterygoid hamulus 



FIG. 170. Lateral wall of right nasal cavity showing inferior concha in situ. 



FIG. 171. Right inferior nasal concha. 

 Medial surface. 



FIG. 172. Right inferior nasal concha. 

 Lateral surface. 



The Vomer. 



The vomer is situated in the median plane, but its anterior portion is frequently 

 bent to one or other side. It is thin, somewhat quadrilateral in shape, and forms 

 the hinder and lower part of the nasal septum (Fig. 173) ; it has two surfaces and 

 four borders. The surfaces (Fig. 174) are marked by small furrows for blood- 

 vessels, and on each is the nasopalatine groove, which runs obliquely downward 

 and forward, and lodges the nasopalatine nerve and vessels. The superior border, 

 the thickest, presents a deep furrow, bounded on either side by a horizontal pro- 

 jecting ala of bone; the furrow receives the rostrum of the sphenoid, while the 

 margins of the alse articulate with the vaginal processes of the medial pterygoid 

 plates of the sphenoid behind, and with the sphenoidal processes of the palatine 

 bones in front. The inferior border articulates with the crest formed by the maxillae 



