130 BASIS OF THE SKULL. 



continued on the anterior side of the petrous bone, from the 

 fissure of the glenoid cavity to the anterior foramen lacerum. 

 The styloid process of the os sphenoides, which is seldom more 

 than four lines in length, appears at the edge of this suture. 

 On the inside of the glenoid cavity, and on the inside of this 

 process, in the suture formed between the petrous and sphenoid 

 bones, is the bony orifice of the Eustachian tube. 



The foramen spinale, for" the middle artery of the dura 

 mater, is at a very small distance from the Eustachian tube, 

 immediately anterior to it ; and at a small distance on the 

 inside and front of this foramen is the foramen ovale, for the 

 inferior maxillary nerve, or the third branch of the fifth pair. 

 Proceeding from before backwards the base of the skull apper- 

 taining to the face is seen to be formed by the palate processes 

 of the superior maxillary and palate bones ; by the vomer ; the 

 pterygoid spinous processes, and part of the body of the sphenoid. 

 The roof of the mouth as seen at 1, 3, Fig. 31, is constituted 

 by the palatine processes of the superior maxillary and palate 

 bones. The transverse suture which separates them is well 

 seen on the left side of the cut. In the longitudinal suture 

 and directly behind the front incisor teeth, 2, is the incisive or 

 anterior palatine foramen, the inferior opening of the naso- 

 palatine canal, which lodges the ganglion of Cloquet (naso- 

 palatine) and transmits the anterior palatine nerves. The 

 posterior palatine foramina, are placed near the posterior angles 

 of the hard palate, for the purpose of transmitting to the palate 

 the blood-vessels and nerves of that name. The opening of 

 the larger foramen is seen near 3, Fig. 31. On the innetf side of 

 this foramen is seen the transverse ridge upon which is inserted 

 the expanded tendon of the tensor palati muscle. The 

 rounded crescentic border, which terminates posteriorly each 

 half of the hard palate, gives attachment to the velum pendu- 

 lum palati ; and in the middle line 4, is seen the palate spine 

 from which is hung the azygos uvuloe muscle. The posterior 

 nares is seen immediately above divided by the vorner, 5, and 

 bounded externally by the internal pterygoid processes, 6. By 

 the side of the shelving base of the vomer and partly formed 

 by it are the pterygo-palatine canals, which transmit the 



