156 Anatomy of the Rabbit. 



cavity, the ridge indicating the position of the soft palate. Its 

 lateral surface is partly applied to the maxilla and partly exposed 

 to the orbit. Its dorsal margin is articulated with the presphenoid 

 and with the ethmoidal process of orbitosphenoid, but a small 

 posterior portion is free, so that the anterior portion of the basi- 

 sphenoid is visible from the orbit. The free ventral margin forms 

 posteriorly a thick projecting angle, the pyramidal process 

 (processus pyramidalis) , the base of which is cleft where it articulates 

 with the medial and lateral laminae of the pterygoid process. 

 Between the pyramidal process and the alveolus of the last cheek- 

 tooth there is a conspicuous palatine notch (incisura palatina), 

 connecting the orbit with the palatal surface. In the entire skull 

 only the posterior portion of the lateral surface is visible from the 

 orbit, the anterior portion being concealed by the projecting bases 

 of the posterior cheek-teeth. The i-idge of bone on which the 

 alveoli of these teeth are borne is separated from the palatine bone 

 by the infraorbital groove. The medial wall of the latter, 

 formed by the palatine bone, contains the orbital opening of the 

 pterygopalatine canal and the sphenopalatine foramen. 



19. THE MANDIBLE. 



The mandible (mandibula), or lower jaw, comprises the two 

 dentary bones (ossa dentalia), which, in che rabbit, as in mammals 

 generally, are united by a fibrous or fibrocartilaginous connection 

 (symphysis mandibulae) ; not coalesced, as in the human skull, to 

 form a continuous structure. As indicated above, each of the 

 dentary bones comprises: (i) a horizontal, tooth-bearing portion 

 which, in conjunction with that of the opposite side, forms the 

 body of the mandible (corpus mandibulae) ; and (2) a posterior, 

 vertical plate, the mandibular ramus (ramus mandibulae), for 

 muscle attachment and articulation. The horizontal portion 

 is deep posteriorly, where it lodges the alveoli of the cheek-teeth. 

 Anteriorly, in the diastema separating the latter from the incisors, 

 its dorsal surface is rounded and depressed, the space thus formed 

 corresponding to a similar space in the upper jaw and serving 

 chiefly for the accommodation of the lips, which in this region en- 

 croach medially on the oral cavity. The medial surface of the 



