20 HUMAN ANATOMY. 



Spinous process, for attachment of tensor palati muscle, and 

 the internal lateral ligament of the lower jaw. 



The anterior or orbital surface enters into the formation of 

 the orbit and presents numerous external orbital foramina for 

 passage of branches of the deep temporal arteries. 



The circumference of the greater wing forms part of the 

 sphenoidal fissure and articulates with the frontal bone in front 

 and laterally with the parietal, squamous, and petrous portions 

 of the temporal bone. 



The lesser wings, or processes of Ingrassias, project on 

 either side from the superior surface of the body, to which they 

 are attached by two roots. 



The upper surface forms part of the anterior fossa of the 

 skull. The lower surface forms part of the orbit and the upper 

 border of the sphenoidal fissure, or foramen lacerum anterius, 

 transmitting the third and fourth ophthalmic divisions of the 

 fifth and sixth cranial nerves, orbital branch of the middle 

 meningeal artery, a recurrent branch of the lachrymal artery, the 

 ophthalmic vein, and filaments from the cavernous plexus. 



The anterior clinoid process is formed by the inner extrem- 

 ity of the posterior border. 



Between the two roots is the optic foramen, transmitting 

 the optic nerve and ophthalmic artery. 



The pterygoid processes are two wing-like processes descend- 

 ing from the junction of the greater wings with the body. 



Each process presents the following : 



An external pterygoid plate, for attachment of the external 

 pterygoid muscle; 



The pterygoid fossa lies between the two plates and affords 

 attachment for the internal pterygoid muscle; 



The internal pterygoid plate, terminating below in a hook- 

 like process the hamular process for the tendon of the tensor 

 palati muscle; 



The scaphoid fossa, at the base of the internal plate, afford- 

 ing origin for the tensor palati muscle and presenting just above 

 it the posterior opening of the Vidian canal for the Vidian ves- 

 sels and nerves ; 



An angular interval between the two plates articulates with 

 tuberosity or pterygoid process of the palate bone. 



THE FORAMINA are : Opticum, lacerum anterius, rotundum, 

 Vesalii, ovale, spinosum, and two canals Vidian and pterygo- 

 palatine; articulate with twelve bones two malar, two palate, 

 vomer, and all of cranium. Its MUSCULAR ATTACHMENTS are 

 twelve pairs external and internal pterygoid, temporal, tensor 

 palati, laxator tympani, superior constrictor, levator palpcbraa, 



