38 ANATOMY OF THE HORSE. 



In this region, commencing from its anterior limits, we observe 

 the frontal suture, formed by the articulation of the frontal bones ; 

 surmounted by a transverse serpentine one, the coronal suture, 

 showing the line of junction of these bones with the parietal; 

 next, the parietal prominences, bounded posteriorly by the lamb- 

 doidal suture, which joins the occipital with the parietal bones : 

 lastly, forming the posterior boundary of the region, the occipital 

 crest. 



2. The superior facial region, continuous, behind, 

 with the last-described region, presents to view, commencing 

 from its posterior boundary, the transverse suture, the line of 

 union between the bones of the cranium and those of the face, 

 joining the frontal to the nasal and lachrymal bones : continued 

 forwards, in a direct line with the frontal, the nasal suture, which 

 unites the nasal bones : this suture runs within a sort of hollow 

 from the bone, on its sides, rising into the nasal protninences : 

 these are bounded laterally by the lateral nasal sutures, formed by 

 the junction of the nasal with the maxillary bones, both superior 

 and anterior. The nasal peak is the united apices of the nasal 

 bones, projecting forward over the anterior nasal opening ; which 

 aperture is bounded laterally by the superior convex surfaces of 

 the anterior maxillary bones, and in front is oviform and conti- 

 nued into the superior maxillary symphysis, through which runs 

 the foramen incisivum : lastly, the superior alveolar processes, 

 and the incisive teeth, ranged in a row and fixed within the alveolar 

 cavities. 



The POSTERIOR SURFACE is entirely cranial: it is 

 bounded, superiorly, by the occipital crest, and, inferiorly, by the 

 occipital hole ; it presents the occipital tuberosity, and on its 

 sides the broad posterior occipital depressions, deeply and rug- 

 gedly pitted by muscular attachments ; also, projecting from the 

 postero-lateral parts of the foramen magnum, the occipital con- 

 dyles. 



THE INFERIOR SURFACE comprises— 



1. The inferior cranial region, which is bounded, 

 posteriorly, by the occipital hole and condyles ; anteriorly, by the 

 vomer and palate bones; laterally, by the zygomatic arches. 

 Proceeding from behind forwards, we observe — 1 st, along the me- 

 dian line, the basilar process, impressed by the basilar fissure ; 

 the condyloid foramina on its sides, near the roots of the condyles ; 

 a semicircular prominence denoting its junction with the sphenoid 

 bone ; the body of the sphenoid bone, its articulation with that of 

 the ethmoid, and a small semilunar portion of the latter left visi- 

 ble within the crescentic border of the vomer. 2d, On either 

 side, the occipital sty loid process ; between it and the condyle, the 



