THE SKULL AS A WHOLE 



139 



zontal; and behind, by the under surface of the body of the sphenoid and sphe- 

 nnidal turhinated process, the ala of the vomer and the sphenoidal process of the 

 palate bone, which are directed downward and backward. This surface presents, 

 from before backward, the internal aspect o* the nasal bones; on their outer side, 

 the suture formed between the nasal bone and the nasal process of the maxilla ; 

 on their inner side, the elevated crest which receives the nasal spine of the frontal 

 and the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid, and articulates with its fellow of the 

 opposite side; while the surface of the bones is perforated by a few small vascular 

 apertures, and presents the longitudinal groove for the nasal nerve; farther back 

 is the transverse suture, connecting the frontal with the nasal in front, and the 

 ethmoid behind, the olfactory foramina and nasal slit on the under surface of the 

 cribriform plate, and the suture between it and the sphenoid behind; quite pos- 

 teriorly are seen the sphenoidal turbinated process, the orifice of the sphenoidal 

 sinus, and the articulation of the ala of the vomer with the under surface of the 

 body of the sphenoid. 



UNCIFORM 



PROCESS OF 



ETHMOID 



TURBINATED 

 BONE 



MIDDLE 

 TURBINATCD 

 PROCESS 



THIRD MOLAR 

 TOOTH 



FIG. 104. Coronal section of the face, passing through the third molar tooth. (Poirier and Charpy.) 



The floor (Figs. 103 and 104) is flattened from before backward/ concave from 

 side to side, and wider in the middle than at either extremity. It is formed in 

 front by the palatal process of the maxilla; behind, by the palatal process of the 

 palate bone. This surface presents, from before backward, the anterior nasal 

 spine; behind this, the upper orifices of the anterior palatine canal; the elevated 

 crest which articulates with the vomer; and behind, the suture between the palate 

 and maxilla, and the posterior nasal spine. 



The inner or medial wall, or septum (Figs. 104 and 106), is a thin vertical partition 

 which separates the nasal fossa? from each other. It is formed, in front, by the 

 crest of the nasal bones and nasal spine of the frontal ; in the middle, by the per- 

 of fVip ptl^rpni'H ; behind, by the vomer and rostrum of the sphenoid ; 



below, by the crests of the maxillae and palate bones. It presents, in front, a 

 large, triangular notch, which receives the septal cartilage of the nose; and behind, 

 the grooved edge of the vomer. Its surface is marked by numerous canals for 

 vessels and nerves, and the groove for the nasopalatine nerve, and is traversed 

 by sutures connecting the bones of which it is formed. 



The outer or lateral wall (Figs. 81 and 104) is formed, in front, by the nasal 



