162 SKELETON. 



maxillary and palate bones, above, and by the inferior maxil- 

 lary bone, laterally and below. It is a deep fossa, the circum- 

 ference of which is represented by the letter U, the open part 

 being behind. The whole upper surface of the palatine region, 

 presents a number of small rough elevations and fossa?, for the 

 attachment of the lining membrane of the mouth. The surface 

 is divided into two equal parts by the long or middle palate su- 

 ture, which is crossed at its posterior part by the transverse 

 palate suture. The posterior margin of the hard palate is con- 

 cave on each side of the mouth; and from it is suspended the 

 soft palate. The point in the centre of this margin gives ori- 

 gin to the azygos uvula? muscle. 



The foramina on this surface, are the anterior palatine or 

 foramen incisivum, in the long palate suture just behind the in- 

 cisor teeth, and on either side, behind, between the palate and 

 pterygoid process of the palate bone,, bounded exteriorly by the 

 upper maxillary, is .the posterior palatine foramen. About one 

 or two lines behind this, is another foramen, in the base of the 

 pterygoid process of the palate bone, through which pass fibril- 

 la?, of the same nerve that occupies the posterior palatine fora- 

 men. The posterior palatine foramen also transmits an artery 

 to the soft palate, the mark of whose course may be seen at the 

 base of the alveolar processes for the molar teeth. 



The depth of the palatine fossa depends on the state of the 

 teeth. When they are removed by old age, and the alveolar 

 processes also, what w r as palatine fossa is almost a plane sur- 

 face; and in many instances of extreme old age, entirely so, 

 excepting the part formed by what remains of the lower jaw. 

 The separation from the nose is, also extremely thin, and not 

 unfrequently imperfect. The transverse diameter of the mouth 

 is much decreased, in consequence of the absorption of the al- 

 veolar processes taking place, from the outside towards the in- 

 side. 



The internal surface of the lower jaw has been sufficiently 

 described in the account of that bone. 



The Guttural, Region of the base of the head is formed by the 

 cuneiform process of the os.occipitis, in the centre; by the infe-. 

 rior face of the petrous bones, laterally and behind; by the body 

 and great wing of the sphenoid bone, laterally and in front; 

 nnd by the several bones contributing to the orifice of the pos- 

 terior narcs. 



