THE TEETH. 



two divisions thus formed open into a common cavity behind. 

 The horizontal septum, on the development within it of an 

 osseous plate, constitutes the hard palate. 



An internasal septum (fig. 427, e) may more or less com- 

 pletely divide the dorsal cavity into two canals, continuous 

 respectively with the two nasal cavities. 



In Mammalia a posterior prolongation of the palate, in which 

 an osseous plate is not formed, constitutes the soft palate. 



The second change in the Amniota, which also takes place in 

 some Amphibia, is caused by the section of the mesenteron into 

 which the branchial pouches open, 

 becoming, on the atrophy of these 

 structures, converted into the pos- 

 terior part of the buccal cavity. 



The organs derived from the 

 buccal cavity are the tongue, the 

 various salivary glands, and the 

 teeth ; but the latter alone will en- 

 gage our attention here. 



The teeth. The teeth are to be 

 regarded as a special product of the 

 oral mucous membrane. It has been 

 shewn by Gegenbaur and Hertwig 

 that in their mode of development 

 they essentially resemble the placoid 

 scales of Elasmobranchii, and that the latter structures extend 

 in Elasmobranchii for a certain distance into the cavity of the 

 mouth. 



As pointed out by Gegenbaur, the teeth are therefore to be 

 regarded as more or less specialised placoid scales, whose 

 presence in the mouth is to be explained by the fact that the 

 latter structure is lined by an invagination of the epidermis. 

 The most important developmental point of difference between 

 teeth and placoid scales consists in the fact, that in the case 

 of the former there is a special ingrowth of epiblast to 

 meet a connective tissue papilla which is not found in the 

 latter. 



FIG. 427. DIAGRAM SHEW- 

 ING THE DIVISION OF THE PRIM- 

 ITIVE BUCCAL CAVITY INTO THE 

 RESPIRATORY SECTION ABOVE 

 AND THE TRUE MOUTH BELOW. 

 (From Gegenbaur.) 



p. palatine plate of superior 

 maxillary process; m. permanent 

 mouth ; n. posterior part of nasal 

 passage; e. internasal septum. 



Although the teeth are to be regarded as primitively epiblastic struc- 

 tures, they are nevertheless found in Teleostei and Ganoidei on the hyoid 



