140 



DISSECTION OF THE HEAD. 



nose and palate, but small offsets are given to the pharynx and the orbit. 

 Other offsets connect it with surrounding nerves. 



Branches of the nose. The nasal branches, from three to five in num- 

 ber, are for the most part very small and soft, and pass inwards through 

 the spheno-palatine foramen : their distribution is given below : 



The superior nasal branches (f f) are distributed in the mucous mem- 

 brane on the two upper spongy bones, and a few filaments reach the back 

 part of the septum nasi. 



The naso-palatine nerve (nerve of Cotunnius) (fig. 33, 3 ) crosses the 

 roof of the nasal fossa to reach the septum nasi, and descends on that par- 

 tition to near the front. In the floor of the nose it enters a special canal 

 by the side of the septum, the left being anterior to the other, and is con- 

 veyed to the roof of the mouth, where it lies in the centre of the, anterior 

 palatine fossa. Finally, the nerves of opposite sides are united in the 

 mouth, and are distributed in the mucous membrane behind the incisor 

 teeth. On the septum nasi filaments are supplied by the naso-palatine 

 nerve to the mucous membrane. To follow the nerve to its termination, 

 the canal in the roof of the mouth must be opened. 



Fig. 34. 



NERVES OP THE NOSE AND PALATB. 



7. Meckel's ganglion. 



S. Vidian nerve. 



ft. Larger palatine nerve. 

 10. Smaller palatine nerve, 

 ff Nasal nerve. 



1. Olfactory nerve. 



2. Olfactory bulb giving branches to the nose 



3. Third nerve. 

 4 Fourth nerve. 

 6. Fifth nerve. 



6. I?asal nerve of the ophthalmic trunk. 



Branches of the palate. The nerves of the palate, though connected in 

 part with the ganglionic mass, are the continuation of the spheno-palatine 

 branches of the superior maxillary nerve (p. 104). Below the ganglion 

 they are divided into three large, small, and external. 



The large palatine nerve (anterior) (fig. 34, 9 ) reaches the roof of the 

 mouth through the largest palatine canal, and courses forwards nearly to 

 the incisor teeth, where it joins the naso-palatine nerve. Whilst in the 

 canal, the nerve furnishes two or more filaments (inferior nasal f) to the 



