THE GOOSE'S FOOT. 223 



and at length emerges on the face through the fora- 

 men infra-orbitariiim, and under the levator lahii supe- 

 rioris muscle. It no sooner escapes from this canal 

 than it forms the 'pes anserinus' (the goose's foot, for 

 it divides something like the foot of this bird). It 

 anastomoses with or receives numerous branches from 

 the seventh pair, and forms an intricate plexus about 

 the lower part of the face and muzzle. The nerves, 

 however, are wisely and beautifully interwoven, for the 

 lips, being the seat of touch, require all the flexibility 

 and more than the sensibility of the human hand. 



"The inferior maxillary nerve, or third branch of 

 the trigeminus, emerges from the cranium through 

 the foramen lacerum basis cranii, and very soon gives 

 of£ four important branches. The first branch, reck- 

 oning posteriorly, proceeds backward below the con- 

 dyle of the jaw, where it divides into two portions. 

 The first runs up to the parotid gland, ramifies into 

 many filaments, and unites with the seventh pair. It 

 dips deep into and principally supplies the temporal 

 muscle, and penetrates and is distributed through the 

 masseter muscle. In this division there seems to be 

 concentrated the greater part of the motor fibrils of 

 the trigeminus, for these are muscles of extensive and 

 powerful action. There are few muscles of the frame 

 that are oftener or more powerfully employed than 

 those concerned in mastication ; but with the motor 

 fibrils those of sensation are doubtless conjoined. 



" The second branch is a long and slender one. It 

 first dips into the pterygoideus muscle, which is sup- 

 plied by it; consequently it is here also a motor as well 

 as a sensitive nerve. It then passes around or behind 

 the tuberosity of the upper jaw, supplying the bucci- 

 nator muscle— possibly with sensitive fibrils alone, for 



