104 SPECIAL ANATOMY OF THE SKELETON 



The Processes. The malar process (processus zygomaticus) is a rough, trian- 

 gular eminence, situated at the angle of separation of the facial from the zygo- 

 matic surface. In front it is concave, forming part of the facial surface ; behind it 

 is also concave, and forms part of the zygomatic fossa; above it is rough and 

 serrated for articulation with the malar bone; while below a prominent ridge 

 marks the division between the facial and zygomatic surfaces. A small part of 

 the Masseter muscle arises from this process. 



The nasal process (processus froutalis) is a strong, triangular plate of bone, which 

 projects upward, inward, and backward by the side of the nose, forming part 

 of its lateral boundary. Its external surface is concave, smooth, perforated by 

 numerous foramina, andgivesattachment totheLevatorlabiisuperiorisalaeque nasi, 

 the Orbicularis palpebrarum, and the Tendo oculi. Its internal surface forms part 

 of the outer wall of the nasal fossa; at its upper part it presents a rough, uneven 

 surface, which articulates with the ethmoid bone, closing in the anterior ethmoidal 

 cells; below this is a transverse ridge, the superior turbinated crest (cm/a ethmoir- 

 dalis), for articulation with the middle turbinated process of the ethmoid; below 

 the crest is a shallow, smooth concavity which forms part of the middle meatus; 

 below this again is the inferior turbinated crest (already described), where the 

 process joins the body of the bone. Its upper border articulates with the frontal 

 bone. The anterior border of the nasal process is thin, directed obliquely downward 

 and forward, and presents a serrated edge for articulation with the nasal bone; 

 its posterior border is thick, and hollowed into a groove, the lacrimal groove (sulcus 

 lacrimalis), for the nasal duct; of the two margins of this groove, the inner 

 one articulates with the lacrimal bone, the outer one forms part of the circum- 

 ference of the orbit. Just where the latter joins the orbital surface is a small 

 tubercle, the lacrimal tubercle ; this serves as a guide to the position of the lacrimal 

 sac in the operation for lacrimal fistula. The lacrimal groove in the articulated 

 skull is converted into a canal (canalis lacrimalis} by the lacrimal bone and 

 lacrimal process of the turbinated bone; it is directed downward, and a little 

 backward and outward, is about the diameter of a goose-quill, slightly narrower 

 in the middle than at either extremity, and terminates below in the inferior meatus. 

 It lodges the nasal duct. 



The alveolar process {processus alveolaris) is the thickest and most spongy 

 part of the bone, broader behind than in front, and excavated into deep cavities 

 for the reception of the teeth (alveoli dentales). These cavities are eight in number, 

 and vary in size and depth according to the teeth they contain. That for the 

 canine tooth is the deepest; those for the molars are the widest, and subdivided 

 into minor cavities by septa; those for the incisors are single, but deep and narrow. 

 The Buccinator muscle arises from the outer surface of this process as far forward 

 as the first molar tooth. After the loss of the prominent teeth at any time, but 

 especially in old age, this process, like that of the mandible, is absorbed. 



The palatal process (processus palatinus}, thick and strong, projects horizon- 

 tally inward from the inner surface of the bone. It is much thicker in front than 

 behind, and forms a "considerable part of the floor of the nostril and the roof of 

 the mouth. Its inferior surface (Fig. 72) is concave, rough and uneven, contains 

 numerous little cavities for the glands of the mucous membrane, and forms part 

 of the roof of the mouth. This surface is perforated by numerous foramina for 

 the passage of the nutrient vessels, channelled at the back part of its alveolar border 

 by a longitudinal groove, sometimes a canal, for the transmission of the posterior 

 palatine vessels, and the great posterior palatine nerve from Meckel's ganglion, 

 and presents little depressions for the lodgement of the palatine glands. When 

 the two maxillae are articulated, a large fossa may be seen in the middle 

 line, immediately behind the incisor teeth. This is the anterior palatine fossa. 

 On examining the bottom of this fossa four canals are seen: two branch off 



