LECTURE 11. 



41 



in all higher vertebrate embryos, there is at this spot a con- 

 siderable curvature of the cerebral axis, by which, at a time 

 when scarcely the first foundation of the face exists, the anterior 

 part of the head is bent like the anterior phalanx of a finger 

 when we close the fist. Though this original curvature in the 

 embryo is subsequently diminished both by the growth of the 

 face and the brain, there still remains, even in mature age, 

 a trace of this formation so characteristic of the higher verte- 

 brates. The region in the vicinity of the sella turcica, 

 and the bones connected therewith, are, then, in many re- 

 spects the apex of the angle, the central point on which the 

 skull and face turn, and of the greatest importance in the study 

 of them. To Professor Virchow belongs the merit of having 



Fig. 7. Vertical section in the median plane of the skull of a very ortho- 

 gnathous German, after Welcker. 



a. Parietal bone. 6. Cantle of saddle, c. Turkish saddle (sella turcica). 

 d. Pommel of saddle (olivary process), e. Frontal ijrotuberances. /. Frontal 

 sinus, g. Nasal bone. h. Nasal cavity, i. Anterior nasal spine, h. Dental 

 margin of the superior maxillary. I. Osseous palate, m. Foramen magnum. 

 n. Occipital squama, o. Body of occipital bone. p. Cerebral cavity. 



The lines continued beyond the skull by dots are measuring-lines, which 

 are explained in the Table, and indicate at the same time the angles of the 

 facial quadrangle, they enclose — 1. Fronto-nasal angle and line n e. 2. 

 Dental angle and line 6 x. 3. Line n x. 4. Line 6 e and foraminal angle. 

 Line n b and nb = length of the cranial vertebrae, according to Virchow. 

 See Table No. 6. 



