CHAPTER II. 



THE MAXILLARY BONES. 



THE teeth are implanted in a part of the jaw bones 

 specially developed for the purpose, the bone being moulded 

 around the roots of the teeth subsequently to their being- 

 formed arid moved into position. 



The manner of attachment of the human teeth is that 

 termed " gomphosis," i.e. t an attachment comparable to the 

 fitting of a peg into a hole ; the bony sockets, however, 

 allow of a considerable degree of motion, as may be seen by 

 examining the teeth in a dried skull, the fitting being in 

 the fresh state completed by the interposition of the dense 

 periosteum of the socket. This latter, by its elasticity, 

 allows of a small degree of motion in the tooth, and so 

 doubtless diminishes the shock which would be occasioned 

 by mastication were the teeth perfectly immovable and 

 without a yielding lining within their bony sockets. When 

 this becomes inflamed and swollen by exudation the tooth is 

 pushed to a certain extent out of the socket, and so being 

 to a less extent limited in its range by the bony socket, 

 acquires an increased mobility. 



The teeth are in all mammalia confined to the bones which 

 carry them in man, namely, the intermaxillary and maxillary 

 bones and the lower maxillary bone or mandible. 



