SUTURES. 337 



with respect to the interior ones of the skull, their forms 

 and situations are expected to be known only to profess- 

 ed anatomists. 



In describing the human frame, it is understood that 

 the position is erect, hence by superior and inferior is 

 meant the higher and lower portions of that position. 

 By anterior and posterior is denoted the front and hinder 

 portions of the body, and by lateral, the side. 



HUMAN SKELETON. 



Having introduced the subject of human anatomy, by 

 such explanations and remarks as the student would seem 

 to require, in order to understand what follows, we shall 

 introduce on the succeeding page a front view of the skel- 

 eton, with su ;h references as to make the names and sit- 

 uations of its principal bones readily seen. 



SUTURES. 



Suture, from the Latin suo, to sew, a seam. It is 

 applied to the junction of the bones of the cranium, by 

 serrated lines like the stitches of a seam. They origin- 

 ate thus : The radiated fibres of the bones in their growth 

 approach each other, and the fibres of the one, entering 

 the intervals of the fibres of the other, form the serrated 

 lines of union in question. 



Fig. 1. 



