THE SKULL. 315 



orbits. In front they are produced inwards 

 into the horizontal palatal processes, which 

 meet each other in the median plane in the 

 roof of the mouth, opposite the grinding teeth, 

 forming the posterior third of the bridge of 

 bone supporting the hard palate. 



iii. The maxillce are a pair of large irregular bones 

 forming a large part of the skeleton of the 

 upper jaw and of the face. 



The body, or alveolar portion, of each 

 maxilla projects into the front part of the 

 orbit, and is excavated by the alveoli or 

 sockets for the grinding teeth. Its inner 

 surface is covered by the palatine behind ; 

 and in front is produced inwards into the 

 horizontal palatal process, which meets its 

 fellow in the median plane, and forms the 

 anterior part of the bony bridge supporting 

 the hard palate. 



From the outer side of the body arises the 

 stout zygomatic process, which is prolonged 

 upwards into the orbital process, forming the 

 anterior boundary of the orbit. In front, 

 the maxilla is prolonged into the large fene- 

 strated facial plate, which forms the lateral 

 boundary of the olfactory chamber, and is 

 perforated just above the first grinding tooth 

 by the infra-orbital foramen, for the passage 

 of the maxillary division of the trigeminal 

 nerve. 



iv. The premaxillce are a pair of bones forming the 

 anterior part of the upper jaw, and lodging 

 the incisor teeth : they articulate with the 

 maxillae behind, and with each other in the 

 median plane in front. 



The upper and posterior angle of each 

 premaxilla is produced backwards into a 



